

Class. 



Book 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



A. 

HISTOET 



OF THE 



FIRST CKNTURY 



OF THE TOWN OF 



PARSONSFIELD, MAINE. 



INCORPORATED AUG. 29, 1785, 



AJSTD 



CELEBRATED WITH IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES. 



AT 



]N"OETH PARSOlSrsriELD, 

^UGUST 29, 1885. 






PORTLAND, ME. 
BROWN THURSTON & COMPANY 

1888. 




p'^^ 



V/,Dearborm \L 



PRKFACK. 



In placing this volume in the hands of the public, we feel that it is a 
duty which we owe alike to ancestry and posterity, as well as ourself, to 
offer some apology. It was expected that the town would take charge of 
the matter of preparing and publishing the work, and that a competent per- 
son, who could devote undivided attention thereto, would be found to per- 
form the arduous duty. 

But the town refusing to assume the responsibility, and without funds to 
carry such design into execution, a few determined to push on the work. 
Very much of the burden has fallen upon us, wholly unprepared for the 
taiF, busiedwith professional duties, and loaded with cares and responsibili- 
ties of life, only able to devote to this work those hours, fatigued by 
labor, which should have been passed in repose, we feel constrained to crave 
the indulgence of those who peruse, in this, that some apology will be 
found in the minds of the generous public for the errors and omissions 
which may be apparent, as well as for the style and matter which appear. 

We have no thought of avoiding criticism. But close observation and 
experience have alike taught us, that the severest criticisms will come from 
those who have been least helpful. 

We wish to acknowledge our great obligations to those who have con- 
tributed articles of interest to its pages ; to those who furnished us of their 
means to aid in the proper observance of the centennial ; to the members of 
the several committees ; to each and all of those who have exerted them- 
selves in collecting facts and data for the history ; * to all who have given 
encouragement and cheer ; to each one who has furnished us with a portrait 
for the work ; and especially must we mention the names of a few of those 
who have been very interested and helpful in the prosecution of this volume. 
Without their assistance the task Avould have been beyond our j^ower to 
accomplish. Those in town are John Bennett, Esq., H. G. O. Smith, and 
Hon. C. F. Sanborn ; and of those absent, Hon. James VV. Bradbury, Dr. 
Jos. Ricker, Prof. L. D. Emerson, Geo. I. Doe, of Wilton, N. H., Geo. Par- 
sons, and Edward Tuck, of New York City, Dr. Samuel K. Towle, of 
Hampton, Va., Dr. J. O. Moore,t of Haverhill, John Tuck,t of Biddeford, 



VI PREFACE. 

Ira Moore, of Los Angeles, Cal., Horace Piper, a.m., of Washington, Prof. 
C. F. Brackett, of Princeton, Rev. Asa Dalton, of Portland, and Rev. R. H. 
Conwell, of Philadelphia. 

This list might, and in justice should be, largely extended; but those 
named have been very pronounced in their helpfulness. 

A town history is mostly of value to those who are interested in histori- 
cal matters, — matters pertaining to family genealogies, and of biography. 
In order to present these topics to the enquirer intelligently and clearly, we 
have divided the volume into five parts. 

Part I. is chiefly made up of the papers that were presented in the 
order of exercises on the day of celebrating the town's centennial, in addi- 
tion to a short account of the preparation therefor, and the attendant cir- 
cumstances of that occasion. 

Part II. is the general history of the town for the past one hundred 
years. 

Part III. Personal sketches. 

Part IV. Genealogies. This part is far from complete. Much exer- 
tion has been made to render it more so, but we find it a difficult task to 
accomplish, and in many cases totally impracticable. 

Part V. is made up of miscellaneous papers, many of which were 
received too late to appear under their proper heads. 

The amount of labor requisite to present this imperfect volume to the 
public can never be appreciated by those who have never undertaken the 
accomplishment of a like thankless task. 

Respectfully yours, 

J. W. Dearborn. 

•A committee of ten was selected for this purpose, consisting of Dominicus Ricker, Wm. H. Doe, 
Oilman Lougee, Ivory Fenderson, Joseph Parsons, John W. Piper, Eben Foss, H. G. O. Smith, 
E. S. Wadleigh and O. B. ChurchUl. 

t Deceased. 



OBNERAL INDBX. 



DEDICATIOlSr, ........ I 

Preface, ........ v 

List of illustrations, ...... xi 

PART I. 

Introduction, ....... 1-4 

Programme, ........ 5-8 

Address of Welcome, 

By J. W. Dearborn, m.d., ..... 13 

Oration, 

By Hon. James W. Bradbury, .... 14-25 

Agriculture of Parsonsfikld, 

By John Tuck, . . . • . . . 26-34 

Schools of Parsonsfibld, 

By Horace Piper, A.m., ll.b,, .... 36-56 

College Graduates, 

By Rev. Joseph Ricker, d.d., .... 57-72 

Progress of Physics for a Century, 

By Prof. C. F. Brackett, a.m., m.d., ll.d., . . 73-125 

Centennial Poem, 

By Mrs. Isadore Merrill, . . . . . 126 

Lawyers of Parsonsfield, 

By P. W. Mclntyre, Esq., .... 127-133 

Physicians op Parsonsfield, 

By J. W. Dearborn, m.d., . t • • 134-158 



VIII GENERAL INDEX. 

Minerals of Paesonsfield, 

By H. L. Stajjles, a.m. m.d., . , . . • 159 

Parsonsfield Seminary and its Students, 

By Prof. G. H. Ricker, 160-162 

Music and Musicians of Parsonsfield, 

By Prof. L. O. Emerson, .... 163-164 

Progress of Christianity for a Century (Sermon), 

By Rev. R. H. Conwell, . . . . . 165-173 

PART II. History. 

CHAP. I. 

Geography. — Indians. — Early Titles. — SHapleigh Proprie- 
tors. — Hunters and Trappers. — Wild Animals. — 
Early Homes, etc., ..... 174-181 

CHAP. II. 

Names and Locations. — Address of H. G. O. Smith. — 
Residents 1785. — Early Records. — Petition For, and 
Act of Incorporation, ..... 182-192 

CHAP. III. 

Prospect. — Houses. — Food. — Transportation. — Roads. — 

Improvements. — Crops and Business, . . . 193-200 

CHAP. IV. 

Town Business. — Taxation. — Census Returns, . . 201-206 

CHAP. V. 

Light and Heat. — Drinking Customs. — Coming and Go- 
ing. — Horses and Cows. — Progress, . , . 207-212 



GENERAL INDEX. 
CHAP. VI. 



Churches and Ministers, 



IX 



. 213-224 



CHAP. VII. 

Survey. — Plan. — Military. — Poor. — Political, 



225-231 



Rambles about Town, 



CHAP. VIII. 



. 232-238 



Personal Sketches, 



PART III. 



240-364 



Genealogies, 



PART IV. 



365-413 



PART V. 

miscellaneous papers. 

Letter of Lauriston W. Small, . . • • 

Deed of Capt. Sandy to Francis Small. — Act of Incorporation, 

Call for First Town Meeting, ..... 

Extracts from Records, ..... 

List of Selectmen from Organization of Town till the Present, . 

Names of S. S. Committee since 1820, 

List of Native Teachers, . . . . t . 

List of Names of Town Clerks for a Century, 

List of Names of Delegates and Representatives for a century, 

Senators, County Treasurer and County Commissioners, 



415 

416 

418 

419 

420 

422 

423 

427 

428 

432. 



XII INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Dearborn, Dr. J. W., ...... v 

Dearborn, John, ........ 310 

Dearborn, Jos. F., ....... 316 

Dearborn, Jos. S., . . . . . . .315 

Dearborn, Simon F., . . . . . . 317 

Devereux, John, ........ 454 

Dixon, Wm. D., ....... 259 

Doe, Col. Bartlett, ....... 354 

Doe, Hon. Alvah, ....... 358 

Doe, Wm. K., . . . . . . . .352 

Durgin, Prof. S. H., ". . . . . . 153 

Emerson, Jos. P., ...... . 246 

Emerson, Luther, ....... 245 

Emerson, Prof. L. O., . . . . . . .163 

Fernald, Elliott, . . . . . . . 311 

Foss, Eben, ........ 334 

Garland, David, . . . . . . . 302 

Garland, John, ........ 303 

Garner, Allen, ....... 332 

Hilton, Rev. Chas. A., . . . . , . .353 

Knapp, Hon. Wm. D,, ...... 66 

Libbey, Capt. A. S., . . . . . . . 300 

Libby, Nehemiah T., ...... 459 

Lougee, Gilman, ........ 280 

Maplevvood, ........ 13 

Mclntire, Hon. Rufus, ....... 21 

Merrill, H. Lorin, ....... 359 

Merrill, John J., ....... 276 

Merrill, Samuel, ....... 356 

Moore, Dr. James O., . . . . . . . 143 

More, Prof. Ira, ....... 274 



INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. XIII 

Moulton, Dr. Albert R., ...... 155 

Moulton, Dr. Alvah, . . . . . . 139 

Moulton, Wm. E., . . . . . . .340 

Newbegin, John S., . . . . . . • 461 

Parks, Orlando T., ...... . 437 

Plan of Parsonsfield, ...... 225 

Parsons, Asa B., ....... 360 

Parsons, Capt. Thos. B., ...... 243 

Parsons, Dr. Chas. G., . . . . . . • 1^4 

Parsons, Dr. Jos. A., ...... 1^5 

Parsons, Joseph, ....... 468 

Parsons, Samuel, ....... 466 

Parsonsfield Seminary, . . . . . . .160 

Pease, Burleigh, . . . . . . • 65 

Pease, Hon. Zebulon, ....... 262 

Piper, Elisha, ....... 48 

Piper, Horace, ........ 36 

Piper, Jonathan, ....... 266 

Ridlon, Emery S., . . . . . • .132 

Ricker, Dominicus, .....•• 283 

Ricker, Jos., d.d., . . . . . . .57 

Sanborn, Hon. C. F., 292 

Sanborn, Hon. Luther, ....... 290 

Smart, John G., 307 

Smith, H. G. O., . . 1"4 

Stackpole, Stephen A., ...... 299 

Staples, Rev. L. T., 313 

Sweat, Dr. John B., ...... 147 

Sweat, Dr. Moses, . . . . . . .136 

Sweat, Dr. Moses E., ..... • 63 

Sweat, Dr. Wra. W., 146 



XIV INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Sweat, lion. L. D. M., ...... 127 

Towle, Capt. Harvey M., 273 

Towle, Dr. Samuel K., 151 

Towle, Geo. W., . 463 

Tuck, Hon. Amos, ....... 60 

Tuck, John, ........ 26 

Tuck, Samuel, ....... 325 

Wadleigh, Elisha, ....... 284 

Wadleigh, Elisha, Jr., ...... 286 

Wadleigh, E. S., . . . . . . .295 

Wedgewood, Joseph, ...... 349 

Weeks, Prof. Stephen H., ...... 462 

Wentworth, Hon. G. M., . . . . . . 305 

Whitten, Col. Simon J., ...... 3I9 

Wiggin, Wm. H., 441 



PART I. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 
1785. August 19. 1 

The suggestion of a proper observance of the one hundredth anniver- 
sary of the incorporation of the town of Parsonsfield, came from one of 
her sons, highly honored and esteemed among us here, as well as by 
that very much larger number of friends and associates with whom he 
has lived and labored the larger part of his active life, Rev. Joseph 
Ricker, D.D., of Augusta, Maine. 

This suggestion, communicated through his brother, Dominions ' 
Ricker, Esq., then Representative from this town to Augusta, met the 
approval of the leading citizens, and acting promptly thereon, at the 
annual meeting in March, 1885, the town unanimously voted to raise 
the sum of five hundred dollars, and authorized the selectmen to draw 
orders on the treasurer for sums not exceeding that amount, to be ex- 
pended in observing with appropriate ceremonials the forthcoming 
anniversary. 

A committee was then and there chosen, and authorized by the town 
to take charge, and make all due preparations for the celebration, which 
was to occur on the twenty-ninth day of August following. 

This committee consisted of fifteen persons, as follows: — 

Dominicus Ricker, Samuel Merrill,* John Bennett, Esq., 

Moses E. Sweat, m.d., Joseph Parsons, William K. Doe, 

Ivory Fenderson, Gilman Lougee, C. O. Nute, 

William E. Moulton, Eben Foss, J. W. Piper, 

H. G. O. Smith, Rev. L. T. Staples, J. W. Dearborn. 

Immediately upon the adjournment of the town-meeting, this com- 
mittee met in the selectmen's office and organized for active work by 
choosing : — 

* Since deceased. 



4 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Twelve members of the general committee pledged themselves in the 
sum of three hundred dollars, to meet any exigency that might arise, 
thus placing, in all, at the disposal of the executive committee about 
two thousand dollars. 

The " Piper field," at North Parsonsfiekl, which commands a wide 
view, sweeping over portions of twenty-three towns in York, Oxford 
and Carroll counties, was selected as the most appropriate place to con- 
gregate, and twenty-five thousand feet of timber and boards for stands, 
tables, seats, etc., purchased and placed thereon.* 

Two mammoth Yale tents, one for the audience and one for the refresh- 
ments, were provided. Ample provision was made to give refreshments 
to from four thousand to five thousand people, seating one thousand at 
a time. This was placed under the direction of the well-known 
caterer, Mr. E. D. Robinson, of Portland. 

The services of Chandler's band, of Portland, were secured. 

All favors asked of railroad corporations, the Boston and Maine and 
its divisions, the Maine Central and its branches, the Portland and 
Rochester, and the Portland and Ogdensburg, by way of transportation 
and reduced fares, were cheerfully granted. 

Prof. L. O. Emerson, of Boston, a native of the town, generously of- 
fered his services in aid, and held a three days' convention at East Par- 
sonsfiekl, for the purpose of drilling a chorus for the occasion. In this 
effort, which proved so successful, he was greatly aided by Dr. J. T. 
Wedgewood, of Cornish, also a native. 

The committee on programme issued the following: — 

*The meeting for the incorporation, on August 29th, 1785, was held at the house of Thomas Parsons, 
Esq., the proprietor of the town. This farm is located on its western border, later became in turn the 
property of Capt. Luther Kinerson and of Joseph P. Einerson,Esq , son-in law and grandson, and now owned 
by James W. Cook, Esq., of Boston, (whose wife is a great-granddanghter,) who, haviiig remodeled the 
house and rebuilt the barns and outbuildings at a large expense, generously tendered the hospitalities of 
" Eltuwood farm," with all the privileges of ihe housf, barns and grounds for the occasion, if 'the com- 
mittee should deem it expedient to use them. This offer would have been accepted but from the fact that 
it w;is not so easy of approach. 



I '„L'J N II I I M I I I I I M I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I II II 



,L~m 



785. 



885. 



^ 



^^m^Fl^l^, 



S 






« OgMTgMiimL I 






^I^ 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiuiiiiiii 



AUGUST 29th. 



785. 




885. 



I I M M I M II I I I I II II II I II II I II I I M I M il 



^% 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

1785. 1885. 

In honor of Parsonsfield's Centennial, which is to be celebrated at North 
Parsonsfield, Me., August 2yth, there is to be a 

GRAHD 

PREPARATORY MUSICAL FESTIYAL, 

—AT— 

EfiS^T PARS0NSF1ELB, 

AUGUST 26th, 27th and 28th. 



DIRECTORS: 

Prof. L. 0. Emerson, of Boston, Mass. 

Dr. John T. Wedge wood, of Cornish, Me. 



Soloist, Miss Alice Crouch, Boston. 



PIANISTS : 

Miss Elizabeth U. Emerson, Boston. 

Miss Rosa K. Wedgewood, Cornish, Me. 

Exercises will commence on Wednesday, at 10 o'clock, a.m. 



TWO GRAND CONCERTS. 

TEURSDAT EVE., at S o'clock, and FRIDAY AFTN, at S. 

All singers are cordially invited to join the chorus, and participate in the 
festivities of the occasion, free. 

Concert Tickets, 25 cts. 

It is highly important that all vrho contemplate joining the chorus, should be 
present at its organization, on Wednesday, August 20th. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

ORDER OF EXEIROISEIS. 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29. 



MUSIC, . . . Chandi-er's Band, Portland, Me. 

ADDRESS OF WELCOME, . Dr. J. W. Dearborn. President of the Day. 
INVOCATION, . . . Rev. Wm. Ricker Thompson. 

MUSIC, Festival Anthem, " Praise the Lord," (L.O.Emerson.) Chorus. 

*SUMMAKY OF GRANTS AND SURVEYS. EARLT SETTLEMENTS. H. G. O. SMITH. 

*AcT OF Incorporation and Organization, . H. G. O. Smith. 

MUSIC, " God of Israel," . • . (Rossini.) Chorus. 

ORATION, . . ... Hon. James W. Bradbury. 

MUSIC, ..... Chandler's Band. 

AGRICULTURE OF PARSONSFIELD, . . . John Tuck. 

SCHOOLS OF PARSONSFIELD, . Horace Piper, a.m., ll b. 

MUSIC, . . . . . . . Selected. 

REFRESHMENTS. 
MUSIC, ..... Chandler's Band. 

COLLEGE GRADUATES, . . . Jos. Ricker, d.d. 

MUSIC, " Hail to Thee, Liberty," .... Chorus. 

*CHURCHES AND MINISTERS, . . James M. Buzzell, m.d. 

MUSIC, (Selected) . . . . ... Chorus. 

tPROGRESS OF SCIENCE FOR THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS, 

Prof. C. F. Brackett, a.m., ll.d. 
POEM, ..... Mrs. Isadore E. Merrill. 

MUSIC, ..... Chandler's Band. 

JLAWYERS OF PARSONSFIELD, . . Hon. L. D. M. Sweat. 

MUSIC, " Hallelujah Chorus," . . . (Plandel.) 

PHYSICIANS OF PARSONSFIELD, . . Rev. L. T. Staples. 

MINERALOGY AND GEOLOGY OF THE TOWN, H. L. Staples, a.m. 

REMARKS OF CELEBRITES. 
MUSIC, (Original Hymn.) Tune, "Sessions." 

PARSONSFIELD SEMINARY AND PUPILS, . Prof. G. H. Ricker. 
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS OF PARSONSFIELD, Prof. L. O. Emerson. 

HYMN. 

In the broarl forest's trackless wild, O meadows green! O friendly wood! 

With ready hand and hearty cheer. Each happy bird, and muniinriiifc rill, 

Our fathers cleared their rugged farms,— Each breeze tliat sweeps through sighing pines, 

Their humble homes they builded here. Our restless souls doth sweetly tUrill. 

How changed the time! How changed the scene! Here first we saw the light of day, 
Where once their ."turdy axe« rung! Our lisping prayer we nightly said; — 

Above the forest's gloomy shade, In yonder, sacred, silent spot, 
A busy town to life has sprung. Lies many a loved one, long since dead. 

In these fair fields, first tilled by them, O Faith that crowned our sires of old, 

With grateful hearts we sing our lay, Be with us in each coming year, 

That memory may their worth preserve While others come again to find 

When we, like them, have passed away. Their joys, their hopes, and memories here. 

— Frank Herbert Pease. 

• See History of Parsonsfield, Part II. 

t In the absence of Prof. Bra,ckett, responded to by Rev. R. H. Conwell, of Philadelphia. 

X Paper by P. W. Mclntire, Esq., of Portland. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Officers of General Committee. 

J. W. Dearborn, Chairman; John W. Piper, Rec. Sec; 
VVsi. E. MouLTON, Treas. 

Jonx Benxett, ") 

L. T. Staplks. f Cor. Samuel Merrill, ) ^^^^ ^^ 

C. F. Saxuorn, ( Sec'ys; Dominicus Ricker, > j^-jy^nce 

E. S. Wadleigh, ) Oilman Lougee, ) 

Com.m.ittee on Music. 



Dr. J. W. Dearborn. 

Prof. L. O. Emerson, Boston, Mass. 

Dr. .J. T. Wedf;ewood, Cornish, Me. 

T. W. Burnhain. 

Mis. J. W. (Jook, Boston. 

" B. F. Haley, Cornish. 

" C. F. Sanborn. 

*' Jesse Gould, Limerick. 
Robert Mei rill. 
Dr. J. O. Moore, Haverhill. 



Mrs. S. L. Dittrick, Springfield, Mo. 

" Ada M. Towle, Newfield. 

" N. M. Lcavitt. 

" E. A. Smart. 

" D. O. Blazo. 

•• O. B. Churchill. 

" E. E. Lord. 

" D. H. Hill, Sandwich, N. H. 
Miss Margaret Bullock. 
J. \V. Piper, 



Mrs. Joseph Roberts 

Executive Committee. 

JonN Bennett. L. T. Staples. C. F. Sanborn. 

E. S. Wadleigh. J. W. Dearborn. 



General Committee. 

Dr. J. W. Dparborn, Dominicus Ricker, 

Dr. Hoses' E. Sweat, •Samuel Merrill, 

Rev. L. T. Staples, Giluiaii Lougee, 

John Bennett, Esq. C. O. Nute, 

•John M. Ames, Hon. C. F. Sanborn, 

•Hon. John Bracltett, T. W. Burnham, 

Thos. B. Weatworth, Jos. Wedgewood, 

S. G. Dearborn, Chas. A. Rand, 

J. S. Newliegin, S. F. I'err.v, 

Loreuzo Moulton, Jos. iloulton, 

Capt A O Smart, Robert Merrill, 

J. W. TnieworHiy, Aeheiniah Libby, 

Jeremiah Bullock, H. L. Merrill, 

Thomas C. Huntress, A. R. Leavitt, 

Ivory Fendersou, Wm. E. Moulton, 

H. G. O. Smith, Josei)h I'arsons, 

John W. Piper, William K. Doe, 

Eben Foss, 'Hon. Alvah Doe, 

O. B. Churchill, Robert T. Blnzo, Esq. 

E. S. Wadleigh, Thos. C. Randnll," 

a. H. Cartland, Israel Banks, 

Wm. B. Davis, John Neal, 

J. A. Poase, Luther Neal, 

John U. Parsons, *S. D. Mnrston. 

Chase Boothbv, John Devereaux, 

T. S. Cliufch'll, E. B. Wadleiph, 

Marston .\nies, Geo. P. I>avi3, 

H. W. Colcord, David M. Chase, 

E. E. Lord, Jacob Taylor. 



•Deceased. 



A Praise service on the Sabbath, Aug. 'P,0, led by Prof. Emerson, followed by 
sern.on by Rev. R. H. Conwell, of Philadelphia, commenjjing at 10.30 a.m. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 9 

The tents, tables, seats and stand were seasonably in order, the day 
as fair and beautiful as heart could desire, heralded early by the can- 
non's roar upon the hillside, — one hundred guns, — the police regula- 
tions perfect, and the event successful and satisfactory. 

From the "Biddeford Journal," of September 4, 1885, we clip the 
following: — 

There has not been a better day for an open air celebration such as Parsonsfield 
indulged in Saturday, since 1771, when Thomas Parsons and " thirty-nine others" 
bought the land now comprising the town. At two o'clock in the morning it was 
raining heavily, and the prospect for a good day was anything but flattering, but 
by sunrise the clouds had rolled away, and " old Sol " beamed brightly down on 
the good old town. From early morning until noon, hundreds of well-filled teams 
of every description, came pouring into the N'orth Road Yillage from all direc- 
tions, and by ten o'clock, the hour set for the opening of the exercises, a crowd 
had gathered which was variously estimated at from six thousand to twelve 
thousand persons — probably a number about half way between these figures 
would be nearer right. 

At its last town-meeting, definite action was taken to properly recognize and 
celebrate this, the one hundredth anniversary year of the town's existence. The 
whole matter was placed in the hands of a competent committee, the members of 
which labored incessantly and with enthusiasm to make this event a true memo- 
rial holiday, which should leave a grateful remembrance in the heart of evei-y son 
and daughter of Parsonsfield, whether present or absent, and be an honor to the 
memories of those who have gone before. That they made a wonderful success 
of the arduous undertaking, the excellently arranged and admirably carried out 
programme of exercises abundantly testifies. For days, we may almost say for 
weeks, the clans had been gathering. From every State in the Union, and from 
the isles of the sea, by ones, twos and entire families, those who claim the old 
town as their birthplace, came back to look upon the scenes of other days, and to 
join hands and hearts in the glad festivities of this memorable occasion. 

THE EXERCISES. 

A special over the Portland and Ogdensburg railroad, which left Portland at 
6.30 o'clock in the morning, brought Chandler's full band and a large number of 
others interested, to Baldwin, the nearest railroad station, nine miles away. An 
ample number of conveyances were in readiness to carry the company to the scene 
of the celebration. Half a mile out from the North Road Village, where the pro- 
cession was to be formed, the band was met by a company of fifty uniformed horse- 
men, and escorted to the village, where line was immediately formed for the march 
to Academy Hill, one mile away, where the literary and gustatory exercises were 
to be held in two enormous tents, which were pitched in the field of Mr. Sherman 
E. Piper, on the summit, one for the speaking and one for the eating. 



lO HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

First in the procession, which was marshaled by Captain Almon O. Smart, a 
brave soldier in the late civil war, came the horsemen, Captain John Lougee, of 
the First Maine Cavalry, commanding. Following in the order named, came 
Thompson Post, of Cornish, and Mitchell Post, Newfield, of the Grand Army of 
the Republic, in uniform. Chandler's full military band, of Portland, one hundred 
of Parsonsfield's fairest young ladies, dressed in white, and carrying a beautiful 
banner, which bore the inscription, " 1785 — Parsonsfleld Centennial — 1885." 
After these was a carriage containing ex-United States Senator James "W. Brad- 
bury, his brother, Dr. Samuel Bradbury, ex-Congressman L. D. M. Sweat, and 
his brother. Dr. Moses E. Sweat. The procession was closed by a long line of 
citizens and visitors. 

Upon arriving at the tent where the speeches were to be made, the G. A. R. 
Posts were assigned seats which had been reserved for them in the front row, 
while the band, and young ladies, and invited guests, found seats upon the large 
platform, with the excellent chorus, under the direction of Prof. L. O. Emerson, 
of Boston, himself a native of Parsonsfleld. This tent was one hundred and forty 
feet long and eighty feet wide, and although it was packed full, not half the 
crowd could get inside. The sides of the tent were raised and many listened to 
the exercises from the outside. 

It was precisely ten minutes past eleven o'clock when the band opened the ex- 
ercises with a medley of popular airs. This was followed by the address of wel- 
come by the President of the day, Hon. J. W. Dearborn. His speech, which 
occupied fifteen minutes in its delivery, was able and eloquent, and his hearty 
words of welcome fell pleasantly upon the ears of a large audience. Rev. Wil- 
liam Ricker Thompson then invoked the Divine blessing, after which H. G. O. 
Smith, Esq., an honored resident of the town, was introduced, and gave a very 
interesting and concise address on the grant and surveys and early settlements in 
the town, the substance of which was published in our Saturday's edition. ' The 
act of incorporation and organization, which was to have been read by E. J. Cram, 
Esq., of Biddeford, was omitted on account of a lack of time, as was a poem writ- 
ten by Mrs. D. M. Merrill, of Boston, which was to have been read by Miss Elva 
Staples. After the rendition of Prof. Emerson's festival anthem, " Praise the 
Lord," by the chorus, Hon. James W. Bradbury, the orator of the day, was intro- 
duced, and was greeted with loud applause. 

The following is taken from the "Maine Sentinel," of the same date : — 

The people of the good old town of Parsonsfleld, with thousands of their outside 
friends, celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the organization of the town 
last Saturday, by carrying out the full programme of exercises we published in 
the Sentinel two weeks ago. 

From the well-known energy of the citizens of Parsonsfleld, high expectations 
were raised that the occasion would be one of rare enjoyment to all participating, 
and all who had the pleasure of being present went away more than pleased with 
the varied exercises. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. II 

The grand preparatory Musical Festival was held at East Parsonsfield three 
days before the Centennial, under the able direction of Prof. L. O. Emerson, of 
Boston, ably assisted by Dr. John T. Wedgewood, of Cornish, with Miss Alice 
Crouch, of Boston, soloist, and Misses Rose K. Wedgewood, of Cornish, and 
Elizabeth U. Emerson, of Boston, pianists. 

Mr. Sherman E. Piper generously loaned the use of his field for the erection of 
the two mammoth tents for the Centennial, and, in fact, on the day of the cele- 
bration, free use was made of his house, barn, outbuildings, and nearly every 
foot of his whole farm, for which all interested were truly grateful to him. 

The Piper field, on which the two large tents were erected, was an excellent 
place for the celebration. The ground is the highest in the vicinity, and from 
the place an excellent and widely extended view can be had, overlooking twenty- 
three different towns in Maine and New Hampshire. 

A large amount of work was necessary in preparation for this Centennial cele- 
bration. "We had the pleasure of looking over the active preparations going on 
on Friday, the day before the grand celebration. The two tents had been erected, 
one filled with seats for three thousand or four thousand people, the other filled 
with tables, and handsomely arranged to dine one thousand at a time. Scores of 
men were actively at work (as they had been for many previous days,) in com- 
p leting the final arrangements for the celebration of Saturday. 

Much of the success of this celebration was due to the energetic efforts of the 
committee. Messrs. J. W. Dearborn, Chairman; John W. Piper, Recording 
Secretary; Wm. E. Moulton, Treasurer; John Bennett, L. T. Staples, C. F. San- 
born, E. S. Wadleigh, Corresponding Secretaries; Samuel Merrill, Dominicus 
Ricker, Gilman Lougee, Committee on Finance. 

Messrs. Eben Foss and the Churchill brothers, also proved very efficient aids 
to the Executive Committee. 

Saturday morning was clear and beautiful. At an early hour teams came pour- 
ing along from all directions, and when Chandler's band arrived from Portland, 
via Cornish, at about ten o'clock, there were probably fully six thousand people 
present. Nearly or quite two thousand carriages, bringing two, four, six or more 
each, were there. Over one thousand carriages were counted around the Piper 
place, near the tents, and nearly as many more must have stopped at points more 
distant. 

A procession was formed a half mile below the academy, on the Limerick road, 
made up as follows : — 

Marshal, Capt. Almon O. Smart, with aids. 

Thirty-six Cavalry men, mounted, Capt. John Lougee, commanding. 

Thompson Post, G. A. R. , of Cornish. 

Mitchell Post, G. A. R., of Newfield, both in uniform. 

Chandler's full band. 



I 2 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

One hundred of Parsonsfield's fair young ladies, dressed in white, with a beauti- 
ful banner bearing the inscription, "1785 — Parsonsfield Centennial — 1885."* 

After the young ladies, came a carriage containing ex-Senator James W. Brad- 
bury, his brother, Dr. Samuel Bradbury, ex-Congressman L. D. M. Sweat, and 
his brother, Dr. Moses E. Sweat. The procession was closed by a long line of 
citizens anil visitors. 

Upon arriving at the tent where the speeches were to be made, the G. A. R. 
Posts were assigned seats which had been reserved for them in the front row, 
while the band, young ladies and invited guests found seats upon the large plat- 
form, with the excellent chorus, under the direction of Prof. L.O. Emerson, 
himself a native of Parsonsfield. 

" Aunt Polly " Edgecomb is now living near the celebration grounds, in her 
one hundredth and fifth year. She received many callers on Saturday. 

On the stand were three aged sons of Parsonsfield, Messrs. Robert T. Blazo 
and Joseph Merrill, of Parsonsfield, and Mr. Eben Blazo, now of Porter, each of 
whom is about ninety years of age. 

Reporters on the platform: Mr. P. W. Mclntire of the Argus; Miss Mclntire of 
the Press; Woi-mwood of the Oxford Register; Pease of the Boston Globe; Pres- 
cott of the Biddeford Journal; Cummings of the Biddeford Times; and Hanscom 
of the Maine Sentinel. 

Exercises at the tent opened at ten minutes past eleven, A.M., by music from 
the band and singing by Prof. Emerson's chorus. 

On Sunday, it being quite stormy, the exercises were held in the church, which 
was filled. The exercises were of much interest. They were as follows: — 

Praise Singing — L. O. Emerson's Chorus, Miss Wedgewood presiding at the 
organ. 

Remarks — by Rev. Mr. Snow, of Cornish. 

Prayer and Remarks — by Rev. I. P. Quimby, of Turner, Maine. 

Singing — " Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." 

A very interesting and powerful sermon, by Rev. R. H. Conwell, of Philadel- 
phia, on the progress of Christianity for one hundred years. f 

Singing — " Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow." In which we plainly 
recognized the strong bass voice of Hon. Leonard Andrews,| of Biddeford. 

A fervent benediction by Rev. Mr. Conwell, closed the interesting exercises 
pertaining to the Parsonsfield Centennial. 

* At the close of the exercises this bauner was presented to Prof. L. O. Emerson, who proudly took it 
home to Boston with him. 

t Digest of sermon appears in this worlj, Part III. 
t Since deceased. 




Q 
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O 

u 

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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 3 

EXERCISES AT TENT. 

Chandler's band opened the exercises with a medley of popular and 
inspiring airs. The address of welcome was then given by the Presi- 
dent of the day, Dr. J. W. Dearborn, which was as follows : — 

Ladies and Gentlemen: The town of Parsonsfield on this, the one hun- 
dredth anniversary of her birth, extends to you a kindly greeting and a cordial 
welcome. 

To every son and daughter of this soil, native and adopted, she gives a mother's 
love and blessing, and opens thereto the dearest hospitalities of the old home. 

Those of us who remain as members of the household, rejoice that we are again 
allowed to meet so many who have sought homes elsewhere, but who on this oc- 
casion manifest by their presence their continued regard for this, their fatherland. 
To you we open wide our hearts , and clasp your every hand with the warmest frater- 
nal greetings. To those from sister towns, from far and near, who have come 
here today to aid us by their presence, and by their expressions of good-will, in 
erecting this, the first great milestone in the onward march of years, thus mark- 
ing otf by centuries this town's existence, to you I say, we swing the doors wide 
open, and bid you hail and good cheer. On this auspicious morn we meet, a re- 
union of hearts, and a unity of effort, to briefly contemplate and review the his- 
tory of this grand old town from its infancy to the present ; and with the vision of 
faith glance forward to the destinies that await its future. This review and fore- 
cast are not altogether free from saddening thoughts, although the blessings that 
have been showered upon us in the past have been so rich and so varied. Of 
that number who participated in the exercises of incorporation, none remain. 
All those noble, heroic souls, with thousands of their descendants, have by the 
pale boatman been ferried across the dark and murky waters. But of the num- 
ber then living within its borders, there is one remaining, a lone woman, who 
resides almost within sound of my voice, and who is now more than one Imndred 
and four years of age. Her infancy was cradled in the century preceding this 
town's birth, and should her life continue through this day, into the border of the 
next, she will have clasped by the golden band of years, fastened only by the ten- 
der, silken thread of life, three centuries together. Then, again, as we look for- 
ward over the chasm of another hundred years, we are saddened by the contem- 
plation that all these — this buoyancy, and life, and beauty, and mirth — will have 
taken their places with the loved ones gone before, in the ranks of that great, 
silent, fast-swelling majority. But notwithstanding these facts, let us not fail to 
rejoice and give thanks for the many blessings which crowned ovir lives. For an 
ancestry rich in strength of character, nobleness of soul, devotion to duty, to 
humanity, and to Christianity. For the noble lives that have gone forth to bless 
and to educate. For the fathers and mothers who have endured privations and 
toils for us, their children. For a birth and home in this healthful, peace- 



14 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

ful, productive, and quiet town. For all the unnumbered and unnoticed bless- 
ings which have surrounded us in the past. For this glorious day, and the privi- 
ege of greeting so many of the dear ones, long absent; seeking hearts of grat- 
itude for recognized favors and blessings, believing with the noble Whittier, — 

"Nor bounds, nor climes, nor creed Thou knoweit, 
Wide as our needs Thy favors fall; 
The white wings of the Holy Ghost 

Stoop, seen or unseen, o'er the heads of all." 

With gratitude for the blessings of the past, and imploring a continuance for 
the future, I now invite each and all to revently unite with Rev. Wm. R. Thomp- 
son in the invocation. 

After the fervent prayer by Rev. Wm. Ricker Thompson, and the ren- 
dering of Prof. Emerson's Festival Anthem, " Praise the Lord," by 
the Chorus, an able and interesting paper was read by H. G. O. Smith, 
giving a summary of grants and surveys, act of incorporation and or- 
ganization, which appears, with other historical matters of importance, 
in this work. Part II. 

The orator of the day was then introduced as one of the native sons 
of Parsonsfield, who comes to us laden not only with years but with 
honors, Hon. James W. Bradbury, of Augusta, Maine. 

Mr. Bradbury spoke as follows: — 

Mr. Chairman: 

Fellow Citizens — I am glad to stand upon the soil and breathe again the air of 
my native town — to look once more upon the hills and valleys, the fields and 
forests, of my earliest recollection, 

I am glad to see assembled here so many of the children and grandchildren of 
the acquaintance of my boyhood. 

I am glad to grasp the hand of the few that survive of those I then knew. 

This scene bring back the memories of the past. It recalls the changes that 
the lapse of years has made. 

My recollection goes back three-fourths of the period since the organization of 
this town. 

One hundred years ago today, the hardy pioneers of this settlement met at 
the house of Thomas Parsons, and organized the town of Parsonsfield. 

You meet today to celebrate that event. It is an appropriate, as well as an 
agreeable service. 

It is due to the memory of those enterprising pioneers, from you who occupy 
the places where they stood, and constitute the present citizens of the good old 
town. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1$ 

It is well for the present generation to recall the privations and hardships en- 
dured by those men and women who came into the wilderness, upon the very- 
verge of civilization, to make homes for themselves and their posterity. 

The discomforts of life in the rude dwellings they were first able to provide, 
the toil in clearing the heavily wooded land, of walling and fencing the fields, of 
making the highways over the rocky soil, of erecting comfortable buildings, 
schoolhouses and churches, the men of the present generation hardly know how 
to appreciate. Such noble acts, looking beyond self, to secure homes and inde- 
pendence for those who should come after them, is deserving of commemora- 
tion. 

It was very kind in you, Mr. President and gentlemen of the Committee, to in- 
vite those of us who had strayed from the old homestead, to join you in this cele- 
bration, and give us the opportunity to share in its pleasures. For myself, and I 
think I may add in behalf of all the rest, we give you our hearty thanks. 

Perhaps I ought here to say, that when your committee did me the honor to 
invite me to make a leading address on this occasion, I was so environed by sick- 
ness, cares, and the weight of years, that I felt constrained to decline. And I 
understood that what was expected of me was to give some personal reminiscen- 
ces, and a sketch of the early lawyers, until I saw the programme which assigns 
to me a duty I am not prepared to discharge. 

We have heard with pleasure the interesting summary of the grants and early 
settlements of the territory. The most prominent figure among the first settlers 
was Thomas Parsons, the leading proprietor of the township. It is appropriately 
left for others to do justice to the memory of him, who bore so prominent a part 
in the early history of the town. 

Mr. Parsons and the settlers were sure they had a good title to the land, going 
back to the original lords of the soil. The deed from Captain Sundy, the 
local chieftain, to Francis Small, dated November 28, 1668, of the tract of 
land between the Ossipee rivers, was subsequently confirmed by the General 
Court of Massachusetts. By intermediate conveyances the title came to the pro- 
prietors who made .the agreement with Mr. Parsons and his associates. 

Whatever may be said respecting the dispossession of the original occupants of 
many portions of the country, the proprietors of the soil of Parsonsfield can trace 
their title back to the original source. 

According to tradition, there is something of romance connected with the origin 
of this deed to Mr. Small. 

Francis Small, when twelve years of age, came with his father from England to 
America. In 1868 he was an Indian trader, residing at Kittery. In the spring 
of that year he established a trading camp in the Ossipee region, and was proba- 
bly the first white man who entered upon Ossipee soil. Through the summer of 
that year he sold goods to the Indians on credit, to be paid for with furs in the 
autumn and winter. 



1 6 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

In November, Captain Sundy, the Indian chieftain, came to Mr. Small and told 
him, that the men of his tribe intended to set fire to his camp and kill him the fol- 
lowing night, and, as he could not restrain them, he advised Small to tlee for his 
life. Small thought the story a scare, and declined the advice. But w^hen night 
came on, he began to think so much of the informition, that he concluded to leave 
his camp and secrete himself in some pines, on a hillside near by, and vratch. 
Toward morning he saw the flames of his burning camp, and he took to his heels 
to save his life, and rested not until he had reached the white settlement at Kit- 
tery. 

This mode of settling accounts did not suit Captain Sundy. A few days later 
he followed Mr. Small to Kittery, and to make good his losses by the fire and bad 
debts, he sold to Small, for a nominal consideration, the entire Ossipee tract, 
which was supposed to be some twenty miles square. This deed is still in exist- 
ence, as I am informed. 

Sundy appears to have been an honest man, who hated repudiation, but his 
men were rank repudiators. Had they lived in these times, they would not need 
to resort to violent means to relieve themselves from debt, if they had a United 
States Supreme Court to interpret the law. They could assemble in their con- 
gress and enact alaw making wampum, at their own price, a legal tender for debts 
contracted before the passage of the law, and then tender the wampum in legal 
payment of their debt. If not more honorable, it would be a milder and less 
cruel mode of discharging obligations. But I must not trench further upon the 
domain of the historian, who is to address you. 

My recollection goes back far enough to recall many of the early settlers in the 
town, some of whom took part in its organization. Walter Neal, who lived half 
a mile above Middle Eoad Village, was elected pound keeper at the first town- 
meeting, one hundred years ago today. His brother Enoch, lived just above him 
on the other side of the road. Of the venerable forms of my earliest recollection, 
I recall that of good old Parson Benjamin Rolfe,the first settled clergyman of the 
territorial parish, which then embraced the whole town. I remember seeing him 
in the pulpit, in the large unfinished church, situated on the small common at 
Middle Road Village, and in his garden moving briskly about, dressed in his green 
baize dressing-gown, rolled up behind. He was an ardent politician in his latter 
days, and his dislike of a^apoleon sometimes found vent in his prayers. 

I also well remember Elder Wentworth Lord, the Baptist minister, venerable 
in appearance and in character, who lived at the Middle road, half a mile easterly 
from the village, and preached in the meeting-house situated on the east side of 
the road, west of the village, almost up to Walter ISTeal's. 

Elder John Buzzell, the Free-will Baptist minister, resided at the ISTorth Eoad 
Village, and preached in the meeting-house there, and subsequently, a part of 
the time, in the meeting-house in the South part of the town. I saw him fre- 
quently at my father's house. I recall his venerable appearance, and his cus- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 7 

tomary apostolic salutation on entering a house. I must not trespass upon the 
field of the biographer of the clergymen, but you will allow me to add that Elder 
Buzzell was a remarkable, far-seeing man, who has made his name almost his- 
toric. He was one of the founders of his denomination, and did more than any 
other man to secure its enlargement and success. He early perceived the neces- 
sity of advancing the standard of education of the ministry, as that of the people 
advanced, and gave every stimulus in that direction in his power. He was one 
of the foremost of the founders of the seminary in this village. To provide an 
organ for his denomination he started, and for some time edited, the "Morning 
Star," which was first published at Limerick. I received letters from him after 
he had reached the age of eighty-four, written with the vigor and accuracy which 
showed that with him, as with Moses of old, his natural vigor had not abated. 

I recall, as if now standing before me, the good deacon, Samuel Garland, of the 
Congregational Society (or Standing Order, as then called), and the good Free- 
will Baptist deacons, Samuel Moulton and Samuel Moulton jr. 

Dr. Moses Sweat commenced his study of medicine with my father, and at his 
suggestion, as I have heard him say. My recollection of him at that time is not 
as vivid as in subsequent yeai-s. He was one of the first medical students who 
began their professional studies with him. In the course of my father's more 
than forty years' practice of medicine in the town, twelve or thirteen young gen- 
tlemen entered upon the study of their profession with him. All of them achieved 
success in their calling, and several of them eminence. 

Among my old neighbors at the Middle Road Village, I recall Benjamin Dal- 
ton, the careful and successful merchant. Peletiah Ricker, Tobias Bicker, Cut- 
ting Moulton, and the sturdy form of John Bennett, the substantial farmer, who 
lived a little distance on the way to the Korth road. At a later time Israel 
Chadbourne moved into the village, and still later, IsToah Tibbetts, Esq. 

On the South road we came first to the house of Deacon Samuel Moulton jr. , then 
to the houses of William Moulton, and Deacon Moulton senior. 'Near them re- 
sided the Wedgewood families, Jesse and his son; farther on were the residences 
of the Hilton, Bickford, Piper, Morrison, Burnham and Burbank families. 

On the cross roads, leading from the village to Xewfield, we came first, to houses 
of Richard Lord and Captain Tristram Redman; then, some distance beyond, to 
that of Deacon Garland, who had a large family of sons, with whom I afterward 
became acquainted; then further on to the residence of Col. Joseph Parsons, a 
son of the proprietor, who raised up a large family of sons and daughters, of 
whom only one, Dr. J. Addison Parsons, of Windham, is the sole survivor. Dr. 
Charles G. Parsons, another son of the Colonel, who married my only sister, 
studied medicine, removed to Windham and practiced successfully his profession 
for several years, and died there. The Wiggins, Samuel, the successful teacher, 
and Daniel, his brother, lived in the vicinity, and further on, the family of Mr. 
Dominicus Ricker, one of whose sons, the Rev. Joseph Ricker, D.D., has accom- 
2 



1 8 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

plished as much for the Baptist denomination, of which he is a veiy able and 
useful minister, as any man in the State. 

But I will consume no more of your time in personal reminiscences. 

I understand it is expected of mB, that I should give a biographical sketch of the 
lawyers who early settled here. In this respect the town has been fortunate in 
the character of those she has had. A good lawyer is a useful citizen; a bad one 
may be one of the worst. 

We owe to law the protection of property, liberty and life. "Without law, vio- 
lence and brute force seize all. Weakness and innocence would stand no chance. 
To secure justice and give protection, law must be wisely administered; and to 
do this, learned lawyers are needed, as well as good judges and intelligent jurors. 
The profession is, therefore, essential in securing the dearest rights of society. 

. I^icholas Emery was the first lawyer who settled in Parsonsfield, so far as I 
have any information. He was a native of Exeter, N. H., born September 4, 
1776, entered Exeter Academy at the age of twelve, the same year that Mr. Ab- 
bott, the distinguished educator, commenced his fifty years' instruction in that 
institution. Young Emery, having been thoroughly prepared, entered Dartmouth 
College in 1791, and was graduated, with the honors of his class in 1795. The 
old time mode of dress had not then passed away. We should now be amused to 
see a graduate decked out as he appeared on Commencement day. He wore a 
black coat, vest and small clothes, with large silver knee buckles, black silk stock- 
ings, and shoes with silver shoe buckles, black silk gloves, and the head sur- 
mounted with a black, three-sided cocked hat. His hair was queued down the 
back almost to the hips with a black ribbon, his head dressed and powdered white 
as snow. 

After leaving college, he pursued the study of law with Mr. Livermore, of 
Portsmouth, an accomplished lawyer and learned scholar, and he diligently 
availed himself of the advantages of such an instructor. During this period, in 
1796, he was for a few months assistant instructor in the academy, and had Dan- 
iel Webster for one of his pupils. He entered upon the practice of his profession 
thorou'^hly equipped for success. He was a carefully trained and well-read law- 
yer, a ready speaker, a cultured gentleman, of fine personal appearance and ad- 
dress. 

Parsonsfield at that time offered an extensive field for a young man in the 
profession of the law. The county was new and growing, business was done on 
credit, and the imperfect surveys left the boundaries of many farms uncertain, 
offering a broad theater for suits for the collection of debts, and the determina- 
tion of controversies growing out of disputed titles, uncertain boundaries, and 
contracts between disagreeing parties. 

Upon his admission to the bar, Mr. Emery came to Parsonsfield in 1798, opened 
his office and settled here. His accomplishments as a lawyer, and his pleasing 
address, soon secured for him numerous engagements, and an extensive andlucra- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 9 

tive practice, that extended over a wide circuit in this State, and into the border- 
ing towns in ]S'ew Hampshire. After eight years of successful practice here, he 
removed to Portland, in 1807. He immediately took rank amongst the eminent 
lawyers in that city, side by side with Mellen, Longfellow, Whitman and others. 
and continued his labors and success, until he was appointed to a seat upon the 
bench of the Supreme Judicial Court in 1834. He held this position for seven 
years, the term for which he was appointed, and filled it with honor. As a judge 
he was patient, impartial and just, always seeking to have justice done and the 
law sustained. 

As an advocate, he was persuasive and eloquent. As a lawyer, he was learned , 
acute, and over cautious in giving an opinion, and perhaps so in foi-ming one. 
He hesitated and balanced in reaching a decision, through honest fear of mistake, 
and this habit clung to him to the last. No man, however, could question his 
honesty. He had not much taste for public life, and seldom took part in political 
affairs. He was a delegate from Portland to the convention which formed the 
constitution of Maine, and was one of the three representatives from that city to 
the first legislature of the State, by which the government had to be organized, 
and the whole code of statute laws, reported by the Board of Commissioners ap- 
pointed for that purpose, had to be examined, revised, amended and adopted. 
He held, and faithfully discharged other public trusts. His public life closed with 
the termination of his judicial office. He died in 1848, respected and lamented. 

Samuel Cushman was the next lawyer who settled in the town. He was the 
immediate successor of Judge Emery, and in 1807 he took the office the Judge 
had built at the Middle Road Village, and continued to occupy it until 1810, suc- 
cessfully engaged in the practice of his profession. He descended from Puritan 
stock, and was a native of our State. 

Robert Cushman, the common ancestor of the Cushmans in New England, was 
one of the bandof Pilgrims who came to Plymouth in 1621, leaving England to find a 
home in the wilderness, where they could enjoy the privilege of religious freedom. 
These were men of convictions, ready to sacrifice the homes of their childhood 
that they might worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. 
If they were not perfect, they were still a noble body of men, ahead of their time. 
Religious toleration is a virtue of slow but steady growth. Nations do not leap 
at a bound into toleration or civilization. It has taken a thousand years to bring 
England up to her present standard of civilization. 

Mr. Cushman, the subject of this notice, was born in Hebron, in the county of 
Oxford, July 21, 1783. His parents were Job and Priscilla (Ripley) Cushman, 
who were natives of Plympton, Massachusetts, where they continued to reside 
until their removal into Maine, in 1772. Job Cushman was a prosperous farmer, 
and in the latter period of his life he was licensed to preach. He raised up a large 
family of children, ten in all, but was unable to afford them the highest advan- 
tages of education. 



20 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Samuel received the best instruction that the common schools and academies 
afforded. He then applied himself to the study of law under the instruction of the 
Hon. John Holmes of Alfred. In 1807 he was admitted to the bar, and immediately 
went to Parsonstield and opened his ofRce, and practiced law there about nine 
years. He was a fair lawyer, honorable in practice, and averse to useless 
litigation. By his integrity and urbanity he won and retained the confidence 
of the commanity, anl was held in high esteem. He held various positions 
of trust during his residence in town. He was postmaster at the village during 
President Madison's administration, and as a member of the school committee, he 
took much interest in visiting the schools, and offering premiums to stimulate to 
improvement. I remember well his presence at an examination, at the close of a 
term of school at the village, when I was very young; and I kept with care for 
years, the book he awarded me on that occasion. 

In May, 1812, he married Miss Maria J. Salter of Portsmouth. They had a 
large family of twelve children, two of whom were born in Parsonstield. 

In 1816 he removed to Portsmouth, N. H., and resided there until his death. 
Such was the esteem in which he was held that he was often called upon by his 
fellow-citizens of Portsmouth, to serve them in various places of trust. He was 
at different times town agent, assessor of taxes, overseer of the poor, and chair- 
man of the school connnittee. He was also county treasurer for a number of 
years. In 1834 he was elected to Congress, and served as member of the House of 
Kepresentatives two years from March 4, 18.35. He was postmaster under the 
administration of President Van Buren, and navy agent during the administration 
of President Polk. In 1850, when Portsmouth became a city, he was appointed 
police magistrate under the new organization, and served in that office until his 
death, which took place May 22, 1851. 

Kev. Doctor Peabody, who then resided in Portsmouth, said of him, that "of 
the regard in which he was held in life, and is cherished in death, by citizens of 
Portsmouth, without distinction of sect or party, it is "impossible to speak too 
strongly." His professional abilities and attainments were such as might have 
enriched a less selfish man, but his time and his best services were always at the 
command of the poor, the friendless, and the public. He was prominent and dis- 
interested in every effort for the general good, and never labored more cheer- 
fully than when consciousness of being useful was the only reward. He sought 
to compose, not to stir up strife. 

In political life, Mr. Cushman, previous to his removal to Portsmouth, usually 
acted and voted with the Federal party. Upon his residence there, he became in- 
timately conversant with many prominent statesmen and politicians, and was led 
to revise his opinions; and from conviction and principle he became a supporter 
of Democratic principles. So thorough were his convictions, that he became 
warm and earnest in the advocacy of his political views, alike when they were in 
the ascendency, and when his adherence to them was to his own apparent injury. 




"'"""f, 




HON RUFUS MHNTIRE 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 21 

As a citizen he took a deep interest in the cause of temperance; and among tlie 
departments in which he exerted a beneficent influence a prominent place should 
be given to the cause of common school education. 

It was said of him that no man has done so much as he, for the public schools 
of Portsmouth. But his highest claim to regard was as a christian. For many 
years a member of the church of Christ, it is testified of him, that he adorned 
his profession, alike by fidelity to the ordinances, and obedience to the precepts 
of his religion. 

The next lawyer of importance who settled in the town, was Kufus Mclntire, 
a descendant in direct line of Malcom Mclntire, a Scottish Highlander who was 
banished to this country shortly after the battle of Dunbar, by Oliver Cromwell. 
He v^as born in the town of York, December 19, 1784, and was of pure Scotch de- 
scent. He was a graduate of Dartmouth college, in 1809. After pursuing his legal 
studies for three years he was admitted to the York county bar in 1812. He was 
a patriot who loved his country with devotion. In the war of 1812, brought on by 
the repeated and intolerable aggressions of England, determined, it would seem, 
to test the question whether our Republican government could stand the strain 
of a war, Mr. Mclntire took sides with his own government, amidst the denun- 
ciations of its opponents. He received the commission of captain in the regular 
army, and served faithfully upon our frontier during the war. After its close he 
spent a year with his brother Alexander, in York. He was bred a farmer, and 
always retained his love of agriculture. In 1817 he came to Parsonsfield, and 
opened an office at the Middle Road Village, and commenced the practice of his 
profession there. His character and bearing were such that he acquired the con- 
fidence and respect of the community as soon as he became known. His towns- 
men elected him their representative to the first legislature, after Maine became 
a state. 

In July, 1820, he was appointed to the office of county attorney of the county 
of York, which office he held for a number of years, and discharged its duties to 
the entire satisfaction of the public. In September, ls27, he was elected a mem- 
ber of the House of Representatives of the twentieth Congress, to fill the vacancy 
arising by the death of Hon. William Burleigh. At the annual meeting in Sep- 
tember, 1828, he was elected to the twenty-first Congress for the full term. 
At the annual meeting in 1830 he was elected a member of the twenty-second 
Congress; and again at. the annual election in 1832, he was elected to the twenty- 
third Congress, making in addition to his election to fill the vacancy, three elec- 
tions for three full terms, and this in the intelliijent old county of York. Xo 
better evidence of confidence and appreciation can any man desire or hope to at- 
tain. 

January 25, 1839, Mr. Mclntire received the appointment of land agent of the 
state. This was during the controversy respecting our northeastern boundary. The 
northern part of our state was situated between ^ew Brunswick and Canada, 



22 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

thus separating these two British provinces. England, coveting this intervening 
territory in order to establisli a connection between their provinces for military 
and other purposes, trumped up a groundless claim to it, and the people of New 
Brunswick were stimulated to take possession. 

Governor Fairfield was informed that some two or three hundred desperate 
men had gone into the Aroostook territory, and were engaged in cutting and pre- 
paring to run down the St. Johns, the immense timber upon it. He immediately 
dispatched Mr. Mclntire, the land agent, with a posse of a hundred men, to pro- 
tect the property of the state, stop the plundering, and arrest those who persisted. 
While in the act of executing these orders, the land agent was seized by an armed 
force, and carried beyond the limits of the state. 

The intelligence of this outrage upon the authority of the state, created an in- 
tense excitement. Our people were ready for war, if war was necessary to vindi- 
cate the honor of the state, and protect its rights. I have never witnessed more 
intense indignation than on this occasion. 

The governor immediately demanded of the acting governor of New Bruns- 
wick, whether this seizure was under the authority of the government. He forth- 
with dispatched a large posse to co-opei-ate with those in the territory, in main- 
taining possession and arresting the plundering. 

He also issued an order as commander-in-chief to raise by draft, or otherwise, 
from the state militia, a large military force to proceed at once to the scene of 
disturbance, to take and hold possession of our imperilled territory. This was 
promptly done. The often assailed militia was then sufficiently organized to fur- 
nish by draft, on two or three days' notice the required force, armed and equipped 
and ready to march to the scene of action. 

This forcible seizure of one of our most distinguished citizens, representing the 
authority of the state, brought matters to a crisis, and led to such action as re- 
sulted in a settlement of the boundary question. 

By the treaty between the United States and England, known as the Ashburton 
treatv, to which the state of Maine was persuaded by our government to yield its 
assent, there was paid to the states of Maine and Massachusetts three hundred 
thousand dollars, for the land constituting the northern part of England's pre- 
tended claim. 

Durino; the time that Mr. Mclntire held the office of land agent, its duties and 
responsibilities were greatly increased by the unsettled condition of affairs, all 
of which he met with his accustomed good sense and fidelity. 

Durinf the administration of President Polk he received the appointment of 
United States marshal for the state. President Pierce also recognized the value 
of his services, and appointed him surveyor of the port of Portland. This closed 
his public career. 

It is due to his memory to add, that in all the various positions he occupied in 
along and somewliat eventful life, in every public trust confided to his care, he 
showed himself able and faithful to his trust. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 23 

As a lawyer he excelled more as a counsellor than as an advocate. He had a 
clear, discriminating mind, and a good knowledge of the law, and he argued his 
cases with force and precision, without any effort at display or eloquence. He 
had a scorn for any advantage by unfairness, and was ever honorable in his prac- 
tice. 

He was a good citizen, a firm friend, and a kind and devoted husband and 
father. In the family circle his excellent qualities were as marked as his integrity 
in public life; so patient under the misfortunes that came upon him in his latter 
years, and so devoted to the daughters that ministered to him for years after the 
death of his second wife. 

He was married to Miss oSTancy Hannaford in 1819. She died in 18.30. In 1832 
he married Mary Hannaford, a sister of his first Avife. She died in 1838. Three 
daughters, children of the first marriage, and one son and one daughter, children 
of the second marriage, are now living. Tenderly cared for by his daughters after 
the death of his last wife, he died April 26, 1868. Long will his memory be 
cherished by the good citizens of Parsonsfield. 

N'oah Tebbetts was another worthy lawyer who settled in Parsonsfield. He 
was born December 26, 1802, in Rochester, N. H., where his ancestors had resided 
for a century before him. His father was a respectable, industrious blacksmith. 
Noah, being apt to learn and of delicate health, was sent to the academies at 
Wakefield and Saco to fit for college. He first entered Dartmouth University at 
Hanover, and when that institution closed, he went to Brunswick, and entered 
Bowdoin College, where he was graduated with high rank in his class in 1822. 
He then read law in the office of Jeremiah H. Woodman at Rochester for three 
years, and was admitted to the bar of York county, Maine, in 1825. He then 
settled at the jSTorth Road Village in Parsonsfield, and began the practice of his 
profession there. In 1827 he moved to the Middle Road and entered into part- 
nership with the Hon. Rufus Mclntire, who had been elected a member of Cong- 
ress, and continued there until 1834, when he removed to Rochester, his native 
town. 

He had a good knowledge of the law, and was a safe adviser and a fair practi- 
tioner; the field for training as an advocate was not large, and he had not that ambi- 
tion and push which characterized his neighbor in the adjoining town, Hon. Xathan 
Clifford, and he did not attain to that eminence as an advocate to which his 
abilities would have justified him to aspire. He was a useful citizen, active in 
carrying forward all social enterprises that he believed would promote the gen- 
eral welfare. The public schools, the Sabbath schools, and the cause of temper- 
ance, all engaged his attention. I remember very well the movement he started 
in 1828 for ornamenting the village by planting trees by the sides of the road. 

In June, 1828, he was married to Miss Mary E. Woodman, of Rochester. His 
eldest son, born in 1829, became a clergyman of prominence, but died early in 
life. 

In November, 1834, Mr. Tebbetts moved to Rochester and continued his prac- 



24 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

tice at the Bar for eight years, unmarked by any unusual events. In 1842 he wa^ 
elected Representative to the State Legislature, in which he was an active 
member. 

In January, 1843, he was appointed by the Governor, circuit justice of the 
court of Common Pleas, a position he was well fitted by his abilities and integ- 
rity, to fill with honor. But his career was cut short by his death in the following 
August. During the short time he was upon the Bench, he showed such candor, 
patience and clearness of conception of the questions involved, and of the facts 
applicable to them, and such judicial fairness in his rulings, as gave promise of 
great excellence as a judge. He opened his court at Guilford in August and was 
soon compelled to adjourn it from illness. He returned to his home and died in 
a few days, leaving behind him an honorable record and name. 

A great change has taken place in the country since the time to which my 
memory goes back. The increase of wealth and the perfection of machinery have 
led to a change of the manner in which much of the business of the country is car- 
ried on. It is now done to a large extent by corporations and men of great capital. 
They receive the net profits, and employ the laborers, men, women and children, 
on wages. Competition is so fierce, and the love of profit sometimes so strong, that 
the wages of the laborer are only sufficient to afford a moderate support while at 
work. Few are able to lay up much, if anything, to provide against sickness or 
old age. And this state of dependence, aggravated by the competition of non- 
citizen labor (against which no protection is afforded by the government), must 
continue to increase. The future holds out little encouragement for improve- 
ment and relief from dependence for that class of our citizens. 

Agriculture is largely free from this dependence. Yours is an agricultural 
town. The soil is hard, but sufficiently fertile to reward the laborer with a fair 
return. By industry and economy he can sustain himself and his family in com- 
fort. He has a home; he is not dependent on the caprice or misfortune of others 
for his bread. Depression in business, or loss of favor does not turn him out of 
doors, or leave his family without food. 

You have a cold climate, but it is a healthy one. You have good schools, and 
come from a good stock. You have the elements for comfortable homes in which 
to rear your children, and to furnish inducements for enough of them to remain 
to keep your population good. Let them remember that four times as many are 
being educated to get their living by their wits, without work, as can succeed. 
Let education be practical; educate the hand as well as the head. 

I have said you have good schools, but there is still a chance for improvement. 
You have noticed how many cases have occurred within a few 3^ears of men of 
education and high standing who have fallen under temptation, and been guilty 
of frauds and breaches of trust, no better than larceny or robbery. 

Is it not possible that this of tea springs from defective education — educating 
the intellect and not the moral faculties? the head and not the heart? The 
earliest training and the most persistent should be of the latter. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 25 

Would it not be a wise thing to do, to require every teacher in our common 
scliools to take a few moments at a set time, almost daily, to inculcate honesty, 
sincerity, truthfulness, kindness, unselfishness, temperance, reverence for God 
in the entire school, young and old, so as to imbue the minds of all the pupils 
with an abiding sense of the obligations and nobility of the virtues, and of the 
meanness and degradation that is sure to follow the contrasted vices. 

Think you that such discipline and instruction, commencing in childhood, 
would be valueless ? 

"We often hear it said that the safety of our Republican Institutions, the pres- 
ervation of our national liberty, depends upon the education of our citizens. But 
the education of the intellect is not sufficient. The moral powers must also 
be trained and developed. Otherwise, strengthening the intellect alone, may 
increase the power for evil. 

We may well ponder upon the words of the Father of his country, in his fare- 
well address to his countrymen almost a century ago : — 

" Of all the dispositions and habits that lead to political prosperity, religion and 
morality are indispensable supports. . . And let us with caution indulge the 
supposition that morality can be maintained without religion." 

I feel a natural pride in my native town. I should like to see such attention to 
your schools, and to education adapted to your needs, — such support of your 
churches and religious societies and attendance upon their services, and the cul- 
tivation of friendly relations between them, and such attention to your homes and 
farms, as shall make these homes the best nurseries of the coming generations; 
that they may be so trained in the practice of every virtue, and in the abhorrence 
of every vice, as to be valuable citizens in every condition in which they may be 

laced. 

While you are doing what you can by adopting the best mode of cultivation, 
and availing yourselves of the scientific knowledge of the fertilizing that your 
soil needs, it will still be true that while you can, by a variety of products, 
secure an adequate supply for your comforts, you will not have any large surj^lus 
of any one article for export. 

Maine men are found in every state of the Union, and as a whole they have 
reflected honor upon the land of their nativity. We rejoice in their prosperity, 
while we regret their loss. Let us not undervalue the privileges and the com- 
orts we have in our own state, and let us strive to make our homes and society 
so attractive, as to retain a goodly share of the coming generations within our 
own borders. 



26 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

AGRICULTURE OF PARSONSFIELD FOR A CENTURY. 

BY JOHN TUCK.* 

To be a Roman citizen was once accounted a high honor. Now a nativity 
among the mountains of New England is a better passport to favor with the 
gathering millions in the increasing states of the West, than a birthplace in any- 
other country on the globe. Parsonsfield, our mother town, and not the least 
among the townships that cover the New England map, has therefore, no son so 
recreant as to withhold from her willingly, his cordial greeting on this occasion, 
with profound veneration; no son or daughter so forgetful of her people, as to 
meet them with less than a brotherly regard, or a sisterly devotion. 

To the touching and eloquent address of welcome by the president of the day, 
there are, however, absentees not a few, whose only response can be the falling 
tear dropped in silence under the roof of a far distant home. Such are not for- 
gotten by their friends today. 

Parsonsfield, like most other towns in York county, was first settled by a 
farming population, which emigrated thither to pursue that occupation, and 
from 1786 to the present time, agriculture has been the chief employment of a 
vast majority of her people. 

The early pioneers found the land covered with a growth of maple, oak, birch, 
poplar, hemlock, and pine, intermixed with minor trees and shrubs. The forests 
rapidly fell before the woodman's axe, and fires were employed to finish the work 
of clearing the ground for crops of corn, potatoes, winter rye, wheat, and oats, 
to be followed by crops of herdsgrass and clover. The land, prepared by the 
combined heat from the fires and the rays of the sun, to receive the seed in 
early spring, in a few days threw into the light the opening leaf, rapidly growing 
into the dark green blade; and soon into the yellow-ripened harvest of fruit. 

The farmers gained courage from their abundant crops, their cart-loads of 
potatoes, large, rich, and mealy, from their long, well-filled ears of yellow 
corn, and from their fine crops of grain and hay. Thus encouraged, our fathers 
somewhat over-estimated the abiding fertility of the soil, and its powers of pro- 
duction, without the condition of paying back to the ground the price of its 
expended resources. For here the elements of fertility of the land, unlike that 
of England, lay nearly all not far below its surface, and the deepened furrow 
failed to bring up from below new elements of productiveness in sufficient 
quantity to make up for the loss of those above, when once exhausted by con- 
tinued cropping. 

Fire had been but a spendthrift agency of a temporary fertility. In its mill it 
had dissipated the grist, and left to the defrauded soil only the toll in the ashes 
of combustion. The farmer did not discover the cheat till his land, in its third 
or fourth crop, began to call for payment for its repeated losses; and seemed to 
hint to our fathers the " Zaw," soon after promulgated by scientists, " of the con- 

* Since deceased. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD, 27 

servation of forces,^'' and to illustrate the impossibility of creating energy from 
nothing. The log that rots on the ground in a hundred years, gives out the same 
amount of heat it would have produced in burning in a hundred minutes; but 
in the first case, it has been leaving its energy a legacy to the soil from which it 
had come, while in the latter case, it has dissipated its estate in the air. The 
laud is ever suggesting the lesson of honest dealing to those who do business 
with it. It repudiates no just debt, nor gives a crop on trust; but is ever boun- 
tiful to the liberal hand. 

But years rolled on. Men and women, ruddy in the glow of health, strong in 
muscle and in mind, with children inured to winter's cold and summer's heat, 
multiplied and replenished the earth. And as they annually assembled around 
the family board on a November thanksgiving, they returned their unfeigned 
thanks to the Divine Being for a bountiful harvest, and the increasing blessings 
on every side. The tables of the husbandman groaned under the weight of 
wholesome viands, including always the rich pumpkin pies, celebrated in song, 
which our mothers knew so well how to make and mold in the immense pewter 
platters of our antiquity. 

To the youth, especially of those days, the early breakfast, the midday dinner, 
and evening supper, alwaj's interesting formalities to those healthy youngsters, 
with appetites ground to a keen edge on the stone of hard work, became emi- 
nently ahsorhing ceremonies on Thanksgiving day, when, connected with plays 
and mirth and other social joys, they made the day memorable to them when 
youth had passed into manhood, and even old age. 

But farm life was not all a day of rest and joy like that. The summer of 
1816 was remembered by that generation as the coldest on record. The low 
ground and valleys were visited by frosts every month in the year. It was only 
on the hills, or beside sheets of water, where the morning fog melted the frost 
in advance of the sun, that corn matured at all. 

At that time, it hardly need be noted, that the prairies of the AVest lay all 
unfilled in the solitude. The millions now Tjusy in driving the steam plow, the 
mower, or the reaper, were yet unborn, and their farms lay in the embraces of 
that vast region then designated on the maps as " wneccpZorecZ." No locomotive 
engine, drawing its long, extended railway train, bearing a burden of grain and 
flour, had ever broken by the sound of its whistle, or the noise of its rumbling, 
the stillness of a New England town. The failure of the crops here, therefore, 
threatened famine to the families of our fathers. Anxiety sobered alike the 
countenances of the farmer, and the laborer working for wages by his side in the 
field. A day's work that year, worth fifty cents, would purchase only a peck of 
corn worth two dollars a bushel; and a Aveek's labor of the house-girl would buy 
no more of the necessaries of life than a day's work of the farm hand. And yet 
the laborer, bearing to his family the little he had received, returned at night 
with a thankful heart, not envying his employer, who had it to spare. 



28 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Sixty-nine summers have come and gone since that cold season. J^Tow the 
laborer, often fresh from Europe, and from poverty, making himself more than 
at home with the liberties of a free country, is often seen in the cities of the 
East and the West, joining in "a strike for a higher wages," because he can earn 
and receive no more than a bushel of wheat, or two bushels of corn in a day. 

The question sometimes comes to our lips, Is gratitude and contentment pro- 
portionate to our wants, rather than to our wealth? 

The latest reports of the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor (the 
fifteenth and sixteenth), show that the percentage of increase of wages for the 
last fifty years, is considerably greater than the percentage of increase in the cost 
of living, while the hours of labor have been diminished, as the conveniences 
and comforts of life, with the means of education, have been augmented. If 
this is the case in Massachusetts, the reverse can hardly be found in Maine. 
But it is hoped that the next hundred years will open a still brighter page in the 
history of labor, as well as in the intelligence of the laborer. 

To illustrate further some of the peculiarities of country life, sixty or eighty 
years ago, the following, which may be of interest to some, is sketched, and 
embraces a short account of 

THE OLD-FASHIONED "RAISING." 

House-building, in the early years of our century, differed considerably in 
method and style from the present fashion; though but few log-houses appear to 
have been at any time constructed. Most of them, though of ample width, and 
good length, were only one story high, and low posted. But as early as 1800, 
there had been erected quite a number, scattered here and there, in town, two 
stories in height, and about forty feet in length. The frames of these were often 
of red oak timber, and large enough for a ship of war. Of course it took a large 
number of men to raise such a frame, as the entire broadside, its great plate, 
ponderous posts, studs, and numerous braces, all framed together, had to be put 
up at once, according to the custom. This was a job requiring the greatest care 
and skill, for if any accident should occur through misunderstanding, or the 
negligence of a single boy at the foot of a post to direct with an iron bar the 
tenant into its place in the sill, the whole side might drop with a crash, and the 
killing of twenty men, more or less, might be the result. 

As the raising of a frame, whether of house or barn, was quite a notable event 
in a neighborhood, the old men and boys, as well as the able-bodied farmers, 
wei-e invited to enjoy the occasion as a sort of holiday for those not able to do 
much lifting. As the older men were able, without interrupting their stories, 
to make oak pins which the boys were eager to toss, as they were wanted, to the 
men on the frame, there were social joys, work, and play mingled, to make the 
afternoon a pleasant one. 

When the frame had all been successfully put up, and the shades of night 
began to appear, thejre yet remained the final ceremony of naming the building. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 29 

This was a work too important to be done in prose, so the very best poet in the 
neighborhood was called to duty. He had of course been privately notified the 
night before to prepare for his ascent, and now the hour had come for his eleva- 
tion to the ridge-pole of the new fabric, on one end of which he was to sit 
astride "like a monarch of all he could survey," while on the other end, face 
to face with him, was perched the second officer. The crowd below, having 
hushed itself to silence, and standing with eyes upturned to the men above, 
the voice of the second man rang out the words slowly and distinctly: — 

" Here - is - a - fine - frame, 
It - deserves - a - good - name, 
And - what - shall - we - call - it ? " 

Then came the response from the poet laureate, no less distinct: — 

" Here is a fine frame, 
Stands in a fair view. 
The owner is industrious. 
And the frame it is new." 

To lines like these were added a quaint allusion to any curious event of family 
history, or such prophecies of future luck to the owner as the genius of the bard 
enabled him to put into rhyme. The air having been duly rent with three hearty 
cheers, and the windows of the next house having been dropped behind retreat- 
ing spectators, the men and boys were all invited in to supper, where they could 
enjoy with their coffee and pies, a clearer view, and the social recognition of 
those who had witnessed their doings through the open windows. 

FRUIT. 

If it took time to clear the land, to build houses and roads, it took still longer 
time to raise orchards and fruit. When at length apples and pears from natural 
stock came to hand, very few were such as to tempt the appetite. It was thirty 
years or more that the pious admonitions of mothers, and the rod of Puritan 
fathers, were supplemented by the sourness of neighboring orchards, to produce 
in their sons a predisposition to honest habits. 

It was not before 1830, or '35 that there came to youth the temptation of the 
apple of finer flavor hanging from the grafted limb. If any boy then fell from 
his integrity, it was from the same cause that had brought ruin into the world once 
before. But this time the culprit (if there were one) fared better than his prim- 
itive ancestors; for he was graciously permitted to retrieve his honor by subse- 
quent honest dealing; and by hard work, to make for himself an Eden of his 
own. If not miracles, at least wonders, have been accomplished by the indus- 
trious farmer with an honest wife to aid him. Where not long since the wild 
beast had his lair, and the primeval forest afforded hunting ground for the Indian, 
now the orchards spread their mantle of whiteness in spring-time over the land- 
scape, and lend their fragrance to the air; and before the falling leaves shall 



30 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

forebode the coming snows, they shall fill the farmers' bins with the best of 
fruit.* 

While the soil and physical features of Parsonsfield render the town best 
adapted to the raising of stock and fruit, yet corn, potatoes, and oats, are next to 
hay, the most important crops. The total yield of corn for the present year, is 
estimated by one of the centennial committee (Rev. L. T. Staples), to be from 
ten thousand to fifteen thousand bushels, with a much larger crop of jjotatoes. 
Wheat, which in the early years of the century was extensively raised, has ceased 
to be a profitable crop on account of the low price of western flour, the best of 
which can be bought this year for six dollars a barrel. Oats therefore have sup- 
planted wheat. 

Farming is profitable in proportion to its net income, rather than to its ag- 
gregate production. Persons realizing this obvious fact are seeking the best 
farms, and concluding to cultivate well their best acres. Some pieces of ex- 
hausted land they will ultimately turn out to pasturage or perhaps profitably 
remand to forest, while other acres never yet cultivated perhaps, will be found, 
only awaiting sub-soil drainage to be converted into the most productive part of 
the farm. 

The rapidity with which the country is being stripped of its pine timber ought 
to admonish land-owners everywhere of the wisdom and duty of carefully pre- 
serving their young growth of pine. 

IMPROVEMENT IN STOCK. 

The fondness for neat cattle characteristic of the English people, had its origin 
perhaps as far back as the Christian Era; and the trait may have been trans- 
mitted through eighteen centuries to the people of Parsonsfield, as an hereditary 
feature of character. As early as the days of Julius Ctesar, cattle had become 
important propei'ty in England. 

The British island being divided into various local sovereignties, cattle were 
deemed the safest kind of property, because they could be driven before retreat- 
ing or advancing bands of predatory warriors. It has been, however, only dur- 
ing the present century that England has carried the breeding of stock to the 
greatest perfection. 

What is called in the United States the native breed, has arisen from a mixture 
of various breeds, imported by early settlers at a time when the fixed breeds now 
in favor did not exist. The first imported to New England were suffered to 
deteriorate from hardship and exposure to our severer climate. 

The earliest importation to this continent on record was by Columbus in 1493. 
In 1553 there were some shipped from Portugal to Newfoundland; and in 1611, 
a hundred head were imported from England to Virginia. A few years later, on 
the settlement of the Pilgrims in Massachusetts, other importations were made 

* Appended to this paper may ba found an estimate of some of the results of the harvest of 1885. 
Also names of prominent farmers. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



31 



to that state. It was some 3'ears after this period, that the distinctive breeds of 
Durham, Ayrshires, Jerseys, etc., became famous in England. 

In Parsonstield the first to introduce improved stock of these distinguished 
English breeds, was Dea. Harvey Page, in the southern section of the town. 
From 1833 to 1836 he kept on his farm a bull about seven-eighths Durham, and 
stock became much improved in that vicinity, and stock raising received a new 
impetus. 

At a date somewhat later, John Kezar introduced the same breed in the north- 
erly part of the town; and subsequently in the eastern section Kathaniel Church- 
ill and Albion Towle introduced the Hereford stock. 

Through the interest created by these importations of 'English bred stock, and 
the improvement seen as the result, the town has reaped an annual income from 
the growth of beef cattle much greater than ever before. At the present time, 
not only the Durham, but the Hereford stock has gone into every section of Par- 
sonstield, attracting numerous buyers from abroad, augmenting the profits of 
fai-ming in its most remunerative branch, and conferring a public benefit, shared 
indirectly, if not directly, by every inhabitant. 

The improvement made in farming tools, during the century, has been fully 
proportionate to the rapid advance made in other directions. Prior to the estab- 
lishment of manufactories to make farming tools by machinery, and before the 
invention of various modern machines and tools to facilitate farm labor, farming 
required an expenditure of time and strength vastly greater than now, to accom- 
plish the same results. 

The cast-iron plow, the horse-rake and mowing machine, among the inventions 
of the middle and latter half of the century now closed, outrank all the others 
in importance to the farmer. But added to them the horse-hoe, the hay-tedder, 
and other inventions, have contributed much to the saving of muscular labor and 
time. Human strength is as impotent to compete with horse power, as the latter 
is to compete with steam power. 

W03IEN OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Ko account of agricultural life in Parsonstield for the century now closed, 
would be complete without a word of just homage paid to the tireless energy 
and enterprise of the women of those early days. 

Persons who have no recollection of the era of domestic spinning wheels, and 
hand-looms of old, can hardly appreciate the labor of manufacturing cloth from 
wool, flax, or cotton, by hand. Every thread had to pass the wicket of the 
spinster's thumb and finger, be reeled, warped and woven by skill of hand, and 
strength of muscle. AJter that, the woolen cloth having been fulled, colored , and 
dressed at the mill, must be cut and made into garments for the family; and the 
family that had wool enough for its needs, and simple machinery, with the ability 
to manufacture it, was deemed scarcely less than opulent. But this work was but 
an incidental addition to the everyday labor and care of the growing family. 



32 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

The making of cheese and butter also, was not reckoned least among the duties 
of women. As the epoch of oleomargarine, though a substance derived, 't is 
said, from Ancient Grease, had not yet dawned on the world, good butter, with 
sometimes maple sja-up, was the only substitute those early settlers had for the 
invention of a later civilization. And, strange as it may seem, the good farmers 
of Parsonsfield cling to this day, as strongly as ever, to the old prejudice in favor 
of butter, which adds, as prejudices will, not a little to domestic labor. All such 
circumstances combine to give truth to the couplet: — 

"Man's work is from sun to sun, 
But woman's work is never done." 

If, however, some kind-hearted devotee to fashion or pleasure should feel 
impelled to di'op the tear of compassion for the sorrows of those hard-working 
mothers and daughters, we would like to lift the curtain for a moment, which 
sixty years have dropped before the scenes of the past, and let her look in upon 
the matron at her loom, or the maid at her wheel, and listen to her lay; for 

" She sings by her wheel at that low cottage door. 
Which the long evening shadow is stretching before, 
"With a music as sweet as the music which seems 
Breathed softly and faint in the ear of our dreams. 

" How brilliant and mirthful the light of her eye. 
Like a star glancing out from the blue of the sky; 
And lightly and freely her dark tresses play, 
O'er a brow and a bosom as lovely as they." 

The woman of that day saw in useful employment nothing inconsistent with 
her dignity, or the highest degree of happiness. In point of fact, it was labor 
for the family that lent its wonderful charm to her life. If her sons and daugh- 
ters have achieved distinction for integrity, intelligence, or honorable success, it 
has been largely due to her example and admonitions. There are living monu- 
ments to her worth, that tower higher far than those of mai'ble, and shall be 
more enduring than granite; for in her busy life of self-abnegation, she uncon- 
sciously touched the chord that reaches into heaven, and shall vibrate in melody 
there, when the marble shall have fallen from its pedestal, and the granite shall 
have crumbled to dust! Let her virtues live forever in her descendants; and let 
the likeness of her daughters be ever, as now, recognized in the sweet lines of 
Whittier: — 

" Our homes are cheerier for her sake, 
Our door-yards brighter blooming, 
And all about, the social air 
Is sweeter for her coming. 

"Unspoken homilies of peace 
Her dailj^ life is preaching, 
The still refreshment of the dew 
Is her unconscious teaching. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 33 

" And never tenderer hand than hers 
Unknits the brow of ailing, 
Her garments, to the sick man's ear, 
Have music in their trailing. 

" Her presence lends its warmth and health 
To all who come before it, 
If woman lost us Eden, 
Such as she alone restore it." 

The traveler is sometimes perplexed with the question, why the roads so often 
lead over the hills, when they might avoid them by passing on the slopes lower 
down. The explanation may be found in the facts that houses were the first 
necessity of the pioneers; and that there was an era of horse-back riding, before 
that of riding wagons, or of " The Deacon's one-hoss shay," when carriages 
on wheels necessitated carriage roads. ISTaturally the settler had built his house 
on the eminence that commanded a fair view of the landscape, and overlooking 
the forests below. After houses, then came roads to reach them. 

At this time women as well as men had become accustomed to the saddle, 
and one now living, then but a child a year old, was carried in 1808 by her 
mother and father each on horse-back from their home in the west part of the 
town, to Hampton, I^T. H., a journey of sixty miles, and back again. Had they 
not been impelled by the power of love for their native town finl friends, that 
journey, though represented by tradition as pleasant, might not have been taken. 

The houses and barns have since been remodeled, or oftener replaced by new 
ones; but it has been on the old roads, and usually on the old sites. So the 
homestead has its buildings where they were, and the roads still lead over the 
hills ; roads built by our fathers' labor, and first honored by their foot-prints. 

We who remain, the remnants of a generation fast passing away, may be par- 
doned even amidst the joys of uie day, as our eyes involuntarily glancing down 
through the vista of past years, and over the familiar fields, once made fertile by 
the sweat of our fathers' brows, — if the old question of the fleeting centuries 
comes back to our hearts, — "Our Fathers, where are they?" Our 
missing brothers, sisters, mothers and neighbors, —where are they ? 

If we ask of the sculptured marble, that adorns the numerous yards of the 
town, and other towns, in other counties, and other states with the sad memo- 
rials of the dead, — many are those that will tell us how many summers the tall 
grass has waved over the graves of departed worth and affection, — our own de- 
parted ones. If the thought of them in any degree tempers with sadness the 
festivities of the day, it is only because memory is not dimmed by the lapse of 
time into forgetfulness of those whose lives are inseparable from the century 
whose completion, by the blessing of Providence, we have lived to see, and to 
celebrate; — to celebrate with thankful hearts, and cheering hopes, but with 
touching memorieSj 
3 



34 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

" The era clone, 
And trust God for the opening one. 
To thank Him while withal we crave 
The austere virtues strong to save, 
And honor proof to place or gold. 
The manhood never bought or sold." 

" O make Thou us through centuries long, 
In peace secure, in justice strong; 
Around our gift of freedom, draw 
The safeguards of thy righteous law; 
And cast in some diviner mold, 
Let the new cycle shame the old." 

When the curtain that time will drop, shall hide us all from human eyes, — and 
"the curfew shall toll the knell" of another century, — there will stand under 
the same sun that shines on us, and in view of the same hills that now circle the 
horizon, another multitude assembled to raise a monument to its memory. 

To that Assembly, on the wings of their hope and love, the farmers and peo- 
ple of Parsonsfield send their greeting, and their benediction ; and bid it wel- 
come to their fair fields, towering hills, and happy homes; and welcome to all the 
transcendent blessings transmitted through them by the /af /lers, to the advanc- 
ing generations as an everlasting inheritance. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 35 

GRAFTED FRUIT HARVESTED IN 1885.* (Estimated.) 

By Gilman Lougee 1 ,000 bush. 

" Silas and James Cartland 1,000 " 

" John Henry Foss 500 " 

" Thnothy Eastman 500 " 

" L. T. Staples 400 " 

And by many others large quantities not estimated. Among these are men- 
tioned John Brackett, Silas Boothby, Alvin Eastman, C. O. Nute, Edmund 
Weeks, and James Burnham. The crop will exceed in town ten thousand 
barrels. 

PROMINENT FARMERS, 

Who have made their business a success in Parsonsfield, who are now living, 
or but recently deceased. Some among them will be readily recognized as hav- 
ing served the town, county, or State, in different offices of trust: — 

Luther Sanborn (deceased), Chase Boothby, 

Charles F. Sanborn, Gilman Lougee, 

Seth Chellis, on farm formerly of Jona- Joseph Merrill, 

than Morrison, Elisha Wadleigh sen., 

Alvah Doe (deceased), E. S. Wadleigh, 

■ John M. Ames (deceased), Daniel Elliott sen., 

Marston Ames, Daniel Elliott jr. , 

John Towne, Thomas Wentworth, 

George I. Doe, Jacob Mudgett, 

Dominicus Eicker, Israel Banks, 

Benjamin Piper (deceased), J. W. Trueworthy, " 

James Burnham, Eben Foss, 

John Boothby, John Sutton (deceased), 

Joseph Moulton, William B. Davis, 

Samuel Moulton, Harding Kewbegin, 

Samuel Boothby, Zebulon Pease, 

Albert Band, John and Lorenzo Pease, 

Silas Cartland sen., Nehemiah Libby, 

Jonathan M. Johnson (deceased), Thomas Churchill (deceased), 

John Brackett, Nathaniel Churchill, 
Jeremiah and John Dearborn (de- Thomas Churchill jr., 

ceased), Robert Merrill, 

Ivory Fenderson, L. T. Staples, 

Daniel Piper, Otis B, Churchill, 

Asa Parsons sen., Samuel Merrill (deceased), 

Joseph Parsons, J. W. Cook, 

John Fenderson, David Perry, 
Joseph Wilson, 
•Papers referred to on page 30. 



36 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

THE SCHOOLS OF PAESONSFIELD. 

BY HORACE PIPER, A.M., LL.B. 

Citizens of Parsonsfield, Ladies and Gentlemen: — 

The subject assigned me by the Centennial committee is, "The Schools of 
Parsousfield." The town of Parsonsfield, like the other towns of N'ew England, 
is greatly indebted to Massachusetts, its parent state, for the excellent school 
system which it now possesses. To Massachusetts belongs the distinguished 
honor of being the first to announce to the world, in its broadest sense, the great 
idea of free schools for the education of all the people without regard to rank, 
race, color, or religion. It is true that there were free schools for the education 
of the people at a remote period of the world's history, and also in more recent 
time, but they were confined to scholars of the higher ranks in society, as in 
Sparta and Athens, or were charity or parochial schools, designed for the educa- 
tion of those belonging to particular sects or religious denominations, as formerly 
in England, and not for all classes, and supported by the people by tax, as ours 
are. " In ancient times," says the Cyclopaedia of Education, " this principle was 
recognized by democratic states. It was, however, reserved for modern times, 
and for the free states of the American Union to carry this principle to its fullest 
extent, providing gratuitous education of every grade, for all classes, making 
common schools not eleemosynary institutions, but seminaries in which the chil- 
dren of the rich and the poor might meet together in common, and share alike in 
the blessings and advantages of education." 

It was ever the. custom in Puritan New England for parents to teach their chil- 
dren to read.* The first educational ordinance of Massachusetts is dated in 1642, 
although in 1635 the idea of free schools for all classes was recognized when " the 
people of Boston expressed by vote their appreciation of the need of a school," 
and employed a " school-master for the teaching and nurturing of children." 
This may be said to be the first movement looking directly toward the establish- 
ment of the common school system in this country, or in any other. f The ordi- 
nance required " the Selectmen of every town to have a vigilant eye over their 
brethren and neighbors to see, first, that none of them shall suffer so much 
barbarism in any of their families as not to endeavor to teach, by themselves or 
others, their children and apprentices so much learning as may enable them 
perfectly to read the English tongue, and knowledge of the capital laws, upon 
penalty of twenty shillings therein." J 

By the law of 1647, " it was ordered by the General Court that every township 
of fifty householders should appoint one of their number to teach all children 
that might be sent to him to read and write, the wages of such teacher to be paid 

* Bancroft's History of the United States. 

t Connecticiit lias sometimes claimed the priority, but I think that it is generally conceded to Massachu- 
setts. See Cyclop.'eaia of Education, under Massachusetts and Connecticut. 
t Cyclopaedia of Education. 





v-^^_,JL.e^ L/^^fi-xyL^ 



iiQRAGB P;feb_,A.K.,LL.B. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 37 

either by the parents or guardians of the children sent, or by the inhabitants in 
general; the penalty attaching to the disregard of this ordinance for one year to 
be ten pounds."* This law may be regarded as the beginning of the common 
school system as now developed in the different states of the Union, since it 
makes full provision for the education of all who are not able to educate them- 
selves. It also ordered " that every town of one hundred families should main- 
tain, in addition to the Common School, a Grammar School for the fitting of 
pupils to enter the University." "This school law, re-enacted in Connecticut 
in the very same terms, was adopted also by Plymouth and New Haven." f 

The beneficial influence of this system of Common Schools, as now perfected 
in our country and especially in New England, where it has exerted its full power 
can be known only by contrasting ours with other countries in which it has not 
been adopted. " In these measures," says Mr. Bancroft, " especially in the laws 
establishing common schools, lies the secret of the success and character of New 
England. Every child, as it was born into the world, was lifted from the earth 
by the genius of the country, and in the statutes of the land received, as its birth- 
right, a pledge of the public care for its morals and its mind." 

The proprietors of the town of Parsonsfield, being deeply imbued with the 
educational spirit, and the high moral and religious principles of the fathers of 
Massachusetts, made provision, among their earliest acts for the education of 
its children. Three lots of land, of one hundred acres each, were given " for 
the use and purpose of supporting a Grammar School in said town." As this 
land could yield no income for several years, the town voted March 27, 1786, at 
the first annual meeting after its organization, " to raise one hundred dollars in 
produce, to be laid out in schooling the ensuing year, to be proportioned by the 
Selectmen." In 1790, it voted " the sum of fifteen pounds to hire schooling." 
In 1791, " for schooling thirty pounds to be raised by tax." In 1792, " that the 
Selectmen be empowered to build schoolhouses in the districts now formed." In 
1793, " to raise forty pounds for schooling, to be paid in corn at four shillings, 
and rye at five shillings per bushel." In 1794, " to raise forty pounds for school- 
ing, and fifteen pounds to build schoolhouses." In 1795, " one hundred pounds 
for schooling." In 1796, " to raise one hundred pounds for schooling, and six 
hundred dollars for schoolhouses." The money raised annually was sometimes 
expressed in dollars and sometimes in pounds. { I have given it as found in the 
town records. In 1797, it voted " to sell the three school lots, and put the 
money at interest to support a Grammar School." The lots were sold for thirteen 
hundred and thirty dollars, and the next year an effort was made to appropriate 

* Cyclopaedia of Education. Also, Bancroft's History of the United States. Mr. Barnard represents 
tlie penalty as being live pounds. 

t Hildreth's History of the United States. 

t A pound was worth, at that time, about three dollars thirty-three and one-third 'cents. I am 
indebted to Mr. Harrison Gray Otis Smith for these facts and others which follow, taken from the town 
records. 



38 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

the interest on the money toward the payment of the salary of a teacher of an 
academy, if individuals would erect a building for the same, but the plan was 
not approved by the town. The proceeds of the land have been preserved to the 
present time, and the interest, amounting annually to sixty dollars, has been 
appropriated to the support of the common schools of the town. This was the 
most feasible thing that could be done at that time, for there was not then suf- 
ficient wealth in the town to support an academy or a grammar school with the 
aid of only this small income; nor were there scholars enough, who could be 
spared from their labors at home, to furnish the requisite number for such a 
school. 

The school districts of the town first formed were the following: The Doe 
district, the Wiggin, the Morrison, the Parsons, the Middle Eoad, the Blazo, the 
Lougee, and the Weeks. These districts were all formed before 1795. 

It appears, from the preceding statement, that the first money mentioned as 
being raised by the town for building schoolhouses was in 1794, nine years after 
the organization of the town. The power to build had been intrusted to the 
Selectmen in 1792. It continued in their hands till 1804. Previous to 1792, the 
schools had generally been kept in private dwelling-houses, a room being set 
apart for that purpose; or in temporally log-houses, erected by the people in the 
neighborhoods in which the schools were located. These were rude structures 
compared with those now in use, with blackboards, clocks, thermometers, globes, 
charts, philosophical and chemical apparatus, and libraries, costing from five 
hundred dollars to one hundred thousand, as some of the schoolhouses in our 
large cities. There were no chairs in schoolrooms then. Pine slabs, with four 
legs put into the rounded side, or the more primitive form of blocks of wood, 
sawed from the smooth trunk of some forest-tree, sufficed for seats; and long 
tables, made of unplaned boards, and supported by cross legs of joist, supplied 
the place of writing-desks. 

It would excite a smile now to see those hardy boys and health-glowing girls, 
dressed in their neat homespun attire, entering those humble buildings from day 
to day, and finally completing their education when they had learned only to 
read and write, and to cipher through the four simple rules of Arithmetic; or 
perhaps, if they were very smart, as far as the " single rule of three." In our 
view, they must have been poorly prepared to enter upon the responsible duties 
of life, but with their vigorous intellects, and the careful moral and religious 
training which most of them received, their success was wonderful, and they 
have set noble examples of industry and virtue, worthy of the imitation of the 
most highly educated and refined. 

My memory does not extend back to those ancient buildings, by many years, 
but I can faintly remember one of their successors, the old schoolhouse of my 
almost infant years, with its great fireplace, its andirons, backlog and forestick, 
and the pile of green wood, cut sled length, and the dry log for kindling-wood, 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 39 

all piled in front of the schoolhouse ; and how the large boys were required to 
cut and split the wood for the fire, to the great interruption of their studies, and 
the annoyance of the teacher. Many were the joys and sorrows of that old-fash- 
ioned schoolhouse. Often for hours the fire presented little more than a 
blackened, sweating mass, while the whole school would crowd densely around 
it, shivering with cold; and when at last it was brought to a glowing heat, the 
situation was little improved, for the small scholars on the front seats were 
scorching with heat, while the large ones on the back seats were still smarting 
with cold. But this state of things was not to continue forever. One cold win- 
ter morning, the boy who built the fire having left the school-room for a few 
minutes to prepare additional wood, the burning brands rolled down upon the 
floor, and set the house on fire. All efforts to extinguish the flames were una- 
vailing, and the schoolhouse, which had withstood so many wintry blasts, was 
consumed, with its contents, in one general conflagration. It was succeeded by 
a new one, on a site a short distance from it, with all the improvements then 
known, — long seats and desks, each being sufficient for five or six scholars, and 
arranged in two tiers on both sides of the school-room, with a broad area in front, 
between them; a stove, dress-room, and wood-room for dry wood, to the great 
relief of the teacher and the joy of the boys, who were forever freed from the 
unpleasant and dangerous labor of cutting wood, and building green-wood fires. 

But this schoolhouse has also passed away, and another, the fourth generation 
of schoolhouses, has succeeded it with many additional improvements. The 
long seats and desks have disappeared, and been succeeded by shorter ones, to 
accommodate only two scholars; and finally, these by the neat and comfortable 
school-chair and single desk; and I am pleased to say that some of the school- 
houses, recently built in town, are so neat and well-constructed that hardly any 
improvement is needed. The great want of schools now is apparatus to illus- 
trate the branches taught, and libraries of standard works for reference, not for 
general reading, as scholars have no time for that when pursuing a course of 
study. It was a happy day when our fathers learned that it is better economy, 
and better for humanity, to cut and dry their wood beforehand; and had the wis- 
dom to substitute the stove for the old fireplace, the backlog and the forestick. 

Up to 1794 the management of the schools appears to have been left to the 
school districts, but in that year the town chose a committee of three citizens for 
each district, whose duty it was to hire teachers, provide fuel and other things 
necessary for the successful operation of the school. The names of the com- 
mittees elected for the several districts the first year are as follows : In the 
Doe district, John Doe, John Doe jr., and Jere Avery; the Wiggin, Joseph 
Parsons, Nathan Wiggin, and Noah Wedgwood; the Morrison, Elisha Piper, 
George Bickford, and James Morrison; the Parsons, Thomas Parsons, Esq., 
David Hobbs, and Joseph Granville; the Middle Road, Cutting Moulton, Job 
Colcord, and Taylor Page; the Blazo, Amos Blazo and Philip Paine; the Lou- 



40 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

gee, David Eemick, James Mills, and Simeon Mudgett; the "Weeks, Samuel 
Lougee, William Bickford, and William Fenderson. 

In 1804, the town ceased to pay for building schoolhouses, and voted to assess 
the expense of building them on the districts in which they were located, and to 
allow the districts to build them themselves, as they thought proper. This prac- 
tice has continued down to the present time, with the exception that each dis- 
trict is now required, by the law of the state, to submit the plan of its school- 
house to the superintending school committee of the town, and it must have 
their approval before the building can be erected. 

It was first left with the town to determine the amount of money to be raised 
annually for the support of schools, and this course was pursued till 1821, the 
next year after the state had been separated from Massachusetts, of which it 
had been a part (and shall I say a great part ?) for nearly one hundred and fifty 
years, from 1677 to 1820. From the organization of the town up to this time, 
the sum raised annually for the support of schools, had ranged from one hundred 
and fifty dollars to .six hundred and thirty. The wages of teachers had been 
very low, male teachers receiving, when boarding themselves, about fifteen dol- 
lars per month, and female, about ten dollars, board being about one dollar per 
week. In 1821, a law was enacted by the state, which required forty cents to be 
raised on each inhabitant of the town for the support of schools. Under this 
law the sum raised annually was considerabl}- increased, and the wages of teach- 
ers advanced a little. The law of 1854 required sixty cents to be raised on each 
inhabitant; and that of 1863 seventy-five cents, and of 1868 one dollar. The 
effect of these laws in increasing the amount of money raised, was to increase 
the compensation of teachers, and make it, in some measure, correspond to the 
arduous labors performed; so that male teachers now receive, when boarding 
themselves, about thirty dollars per month, and female about twenty dollars, 
board being about two dollars per week. The sum raised for the year ending in 
February, 1885, by the town, by direct tax, for the support of schools was 
thirteen hundred dollars. A considerable sum additional was received from the 
state (seven hundred and fifty-four dollars), and from the school fund of the 
town (sixty dollars), so that the total amount expended for schools that year 
was two thousand one hundred and fourteen dollars. The number of scholars, 
between four and twenty-one years of age, was four hundred and seventy-one, 
and the number of school districts eighteen. 

In the early years of the town, no specific qualifications were required of 
school teachers except a certificate of good moral character from the Selectmen 
of the town. At a later period an additional certificate of qualifications to teach 
was required of some liberally educated man. In 1821, a law was enacted by 
the state, requiring each town to elect annually Superintending School Commit- 
tees whose duty it was to examine teachers in the branches of learning required 
by law to be taught, and if found qualified, to give them certificates. They were 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 4I 

required to teach reading, spelling, writing, English grammar, arithmetic, and 
geography. Some other branches have since been added. The names of the 
Committee* chosen in Parsonsfield for the first year were, Kufus Mclutire, 
Moses Sweat and Jonathan Piper. 

I am unable to ascertain certainly who was the first school teacher in Parsons- 
field. John and Gideon Doe settled in the western part of the town in 1775. I 
am informed by Capt. Ira C. Doe that he has often heard his uncle say that 
John Doe, Capt. Doe's grandfather, taught the first school ever kept in the Doe 
district, that being the first district formed in town. The districts were num- 
bered at a later period. He taught in a log-house. Of the character of his 
teaching and mode of school government, I am not informed. The branches 
commonly tavight at that time were reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic. 
There were few books in arithmetic then, and what was learned on that subject 
was taught directly by the teacher, who wrote questions for the scholars on their 
slates. The black-board was not known then, but was introduced many years 
later, in about 1830. 

James Hart, or Master Hart, as he was usually called, was one of the early 
teachers of Parsonsfield. He came from Epping or Newmarket, 1^. H. , about 
1790, and left the town in 1807, having remained about seventeen years. He 
taught in the western, middle, eastern, and southern sections of the town, 
changing his residence to accommodate himself to his business. While teaching 
in the southern section, he kept his school in Jesse Wedgwood's dwelling-house, 
as I have heard my father say, who attended his school there when a small boy, 
probably about 179G. He was an Englishman, born in Berkeley in 1748, and 
governed his schools in the rigorous style of the school teachers of England. He 
used the rod and ferule freely. Few scholars dared to lift their eyes from their 
books, during study hours, in his school. He was not, however, altogether to 
blame for his severe mode of school discipline. It was largely the fault of his 
time and his English training. Corporal punishment was then niuch more fre- 
quently employed in the school-room, in the family, and everywhere than now; 
and perhaps scholars then required severer discipline. Young men were famous 
then according as they had lifted up axes upon the thick trees, and listened to 
the echo of the forest, as they, crashing, thundered down. Master Hart must 
have been a good teacher for his time, or he could not have continued his busi- 
ness for so many years, in succession, in the same town; but happily for anxious 
mothers and for the world, those days of severity have passed away. Teachers 
have now become better acquainted with the philosophy of the mind, and have 
found out a more excellent way of school government. They have made the 
school-room a place to be remembered with delight, rather than to be hated as a 
place of confinement and terror. 

Corporal punishment is now generally disapproved bj' our best teachers, except 

* See Superintending School Committees of Parsonsfield, Part V. 



42 . HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

in extreme cases of persistent disobedience, in which the scholar, if not 
restrained, must be suspended, or expelled from school, and be left to grow up in 
ignorance and insubordination, with all their evil consequences. It is found 
that kind treatment, commendation of good qualities, withholding privileges 
granted to obedient scholars, private admonition, and appealing to the moral 
sense, are more pleasant both to teacher and pupil, and generally more effectual 
in securing good order and kind feeling, than physical force. After leaving 
Parsonsfleld, Master Hart taught a while in Sanford in this county, and after- 
ward probably moved to New Hampshire, and died there. 

Doctor Graves was another of the early teachers of Parsonsfleld. He was a 
young man, and proljably began to teach a short time before Master Hart left. 
As to the length of time he taught, his mode of teaching, and government, I have 
not been able to learn anything. He probably taught only a short time. In 1834 
he was practicing medicine in Lowell, Massachusetts, and was the leading physi- 
cian in that place. 

Among the native teachers,* with one or two exceptions, who commenced the 
business of teaching at a later date, and pursued it as a profession for a long time, 
the following may be named. In speaking of the number of years taught by any 
teacher, I shall call four terms of twelve weeks each a year. 

Asa Burnham began to teach in 1806 in the Morrison district, I think, and 
taught a part of the time till 1819. How many years he taught, I have not been 
able to learn. He was a teacher of good judgment, well qualified for his busi- 
ness, and excelled in penmanship. His discipline was mild but firm, and scholars 
under his teaching improved in deportment, and made good proficiency in their 
studies. 

Jonathan Piper, my father, also commenced teaching in 1806, and taught sev- 
eral alternate winters in the same district as Mr. Burnham. He taught also in 
various other districts in Parsonsfleld, the whole time of his teaching amounting 
to about eight years. He was a good disciplinarian, excelled in penmanship, was 
quick in figures, a good grammarian, and a successful teacher. 

Samuel Wiggin began to teach in 1817, and taught in Parsonsfield, Alfred, and 
other places. He took a deep interest in his business. He made English gram- 
mar a prominent object, and taught it philosophically and practically. The struc- 
ture and idioms of the language were carefully explained, and the diflicult por- 
tions were required to be parsed. In order to make the study practical in secur- 
ing correct speaking and writing, numerous examples in false syntax were 
required to be corrected, and the reasons for the corrections given. His mode of 
teaching this important branch of study is worthy of imitation by all institutions 
of learning, from the common school to the college. The old idea of learning 
the English language by studying the Latin and Greek is now generally aban- 
doned by all good English scholars. The idioms of the English language are 

* See Native School Teachers of Parsonsfield, Part V. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 43 

different from those of the Latui and Greek, and can be learned only by studying 
them in the English grammar and in English books. When the history, litera- 
ture, and beauties of the language are taught so carefully, as they now generally 
are, the more difficult and important work of studying the structure of the lan- 
guage, and of analyzing and parsing, should not be omitted, even in the highest 
institutions. If this method of critical teaching were generally adopted, we should 
have a better class of English scholars, and school committees would not so often 
find candidates, offering themselves for examination as teachers, so deficient in 
a knowledge of their vernacular tongue as they now frequently are. His teach- 
ing in all the branches was accurate, and his discipline good. I had the good 
fortune to attend his school several terms, and I can truly say that I was never 
better taught. He was engaged in the business about eight years. 

John Garland began to teach about 1S23. He belonged to a large family, of 
whom, beside himself, no less than seven were teachers. David (who taught 
ten years with eminent success), Jonathan, Thomas, Edmund, Joseph, Clarissa, 
and Abigail. He was accurate in scholarship, and whatever he did was done 
thoroughly. His views of education were broad, and he taught his scholars not 
only the branches of learning required by law to be taught, but also good deport- 
ment and the moral duties and responsibities of life. He was a believer in good 
order in schools and always maintained it, although his government was not se- 
vere, but judicious and firm. He taught in Parsonsfield, Cornish, Limington, 
and Effingham, IST. H., in all, about six years. His schools took a high rank. 

George W. Bickford taught about nine years. He began, I think, about 1826,. 
and taught for a long time in Calais and Eastport. He was a good disciplinarian 
and successful teacher. He secured the respect of his scholars by judicious 
treatment, and associating with them freely out of school, sometimes taking 
part with them in their sports; but, when he was in school, showing them that 
he was master. His favorite branch of study was arithmetic. 

Ira C. Doe began teaching in 1829 in Dover, :N'. H., and taught thirty-one years, 
principally in Saco — a longer time than any other teacher of Parsonsfield. He 
was a popular teacher, and especially distinguished as a disciplinarian. Scholars 
who were ungovernable in other schools were turned over to him, and, after they 
had been under his training a few days, nothing more was heard of their disorderly 
conduct. He believed that the idea inculcated by Solomon had not yet become 
entirely obsolete, and thought that it is better, in some extreme cases, to apply the 
rod and save the child, than to spare it and spoil him. No school in Saco was 
better taught than Mr. Doe's. 

Chase Boothby has had a long and very successful career as a school teacher, 
having taught ninety-five terms, making twenty years. He began to teach in 
1834, and has continued down to a very recent period. He was distinguished for 
imparting knowledge to his scholars, as well as for good government. His dis- 
cipline was of the persuasive kind. By encouraging every effort which his scholars 



44 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

made, lie threw a silken net around them so quietly and adroitly that it was unper- 
celved; and they were held by its soft and strong threads in willing and perfect 
obedience. They were ready to do anything he wished with the greatest alacrity. 
This I learned from personal observation, having once had the opportunity of 
examining one of his schools when I was on the board of Superintending School 
Committee of Parsonsfield. He also had a great faculty of inspiring his scholars 
with a love for learning, and advancing them rapidly in their studies. His schools 
were always reckoned as among the best in town. 

George O. Burnham commenced teaching in 1840, and taught six years, princi- 
pally in Biddeford. He qualified himself thoroughly for his business at the Com- 
mon School in his own town, and at Limerick Academy while under my care. 
He gained the reputation of being a good disciplinarian, and for aptitude in im- 
parting knowledge to his pupils. He was one of Biddeford's most popular 
teachers. 

Dominicus Eicker also began to teach in 1840, at the age of eighteen. He 
taught at Parsonsfield, Topsham, Cherryfield, Kewfield, Saco, and Biddeford, the 
whole time amounting to about thirteen years. For his first school, he received 
ten dollars per month besides his board, that being the usual price paid at that 
time for teachers when first beginning to teach. For the last, he was paid sixty 
dollars per month, including board. He was well acquainted with the human 
mind, and governed his schools on philosophical principles. He made it an ob- 
ject, first, to gain the confidence of his scholars by kind treatment, and showing 
them that he was interested in their improvement; and then of their parents by 
visiting them at their homes, and conversing with them, in a friendly manner, 
on such topics as would be interesting to them, never finding fault with their 
children, but commending them if they had commendable qualities. He be- 
lieved that, Avhen the good-will of the parents and children is gained, there is 
generally little difficulty in governing a school. He was industrious and conscien- 
tious, devoting his whole attention to his school, and preparing himself every 
day thoroughly for his work. In this way, he created a spirit for study among 
his scholars, and his schools were, therefore, popular and highly pi'ofitable. 

Burleigh Pease taught school for a longer time than any other teacher of Par- 
sonfield of whom I have any knowledge, except Ira C. Doe. He commenced in 
1843, and taught thirty years. He brought to his business a preparation and dis- 
cipline of mind larger than are usually possessed by school teachers, having 
graduated at Waterville College, now Colby University, and, in addition, had 
pursued a legal coui'se of study, and been admitted to the bar in Portland. His 
qualifications, therefore, were of the highest order. He taught in several places, 
but principally in the city of Bangor. "While there he had charge of the Boys' 
and also of the Girl's High School, and at one time had seventeen assistants. 
He excelled as a disciplinarian, so much so that his name was sufficient to restore 
>order in the schools which he took after other teachers had been obliged to aban- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 45 

don them. This power of governing is a natural trait, which appeared in his 
earliest boyhood. He was always noted for his decision, firmness, and indomita- 
ble perseverance in whatever he undertook. His teaching was thorough, and 
always gave the highest satisfaction. 

Frank P. Moulton has had a large experience in teaching. He began in 1869, in 
Parsonfield, and taught in Sandwich, jST. H., Yarmouth, Turner, and Lewiston- 
These schools were taught before he graduated from Bates College in 1874. After 
his graduation he was for some time principal of the High School at Littleton, 
N. H., and for eight years teacher of Latin and Greek in Xew Hampton Literary 
Institution. He has just been elected sub-master of the High School at Wal- 
tham, Mass. The whole time of his teaching amounts to eleven years. In order 
to secure good recitations in these languages, he makes it a special object to 
have his scholars understand the story of what they read, and does not permit 
any, if possible, to leave the recitation seats till they fully comprehend the 
literal meaning of the text which they translate. He not only teaches these 
branches critically in their grammatical forms and idioms, but also makes a prac- 
tical application of them in acquiring a knowledge of the English language, by 
selecting some word or words in the lesson, and requiring his scholars to give all 
the English words derived from them which they can recollect or find in the dic- 
tionary, thus leading them to form a habit of tracing words to their original, and 
also making them acquainted with a large number of important English words 
for future use. He has always been a very successful teacher, as the long time 
he has been engaged in teaching and the important positions which he has held 
amply prove. 

Among the teachers who have taught a long time, William B. Wedgwood, Cy- 
rus r. Brackett, and John H. Kand might also be mentioned; but, as their teach- 
ing has been principally as college professors, they will be noticed among the 
college graduates by an able hand, who will do full justice to their eminent 
abilities. 

There are other teachers of Parsonsfield who have pursued the business of 
teaching for several years, and successfully, but I cannot mention them in detail 
without extending this address to too great a length. I will name a few. Alvah 
Doe taught in Parsonsfield, ISTewfield, and other places about seven years; Samuel 
D. Marston, in Parsonsfield, ISTewfield, Sandford, and Shapleigh, and in l^ew 
Hampshire, at Eaton and Tamworth, six years; Joseph Wedgwood, in Parsonsfield 
and Saco, and in New Hampshire, at Eaton and Eflingham, about six years; John 
W. Piper, in Newfield, Parsonsfield, Limington, Scarborough, Saco, Wells, and in 
Virginia and Illinois, about eight years. 

I am unwilling, even at the risk of being charged with impropriety for speak- 
ing of myself, to close these sketches of the male teachers of Parsonsfield with- 
out enrolling myself among them as one who has taught a long time. I first be- 
gan to teach in 1828, in Eflingham, New Hampshire, and afterward taught ia 



46 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Parsonsfield, Limerick, Alfred, and Biddeford. I taught Limerick Academy six 
years, and Biddeford High Scliool ten, making, with the common schools. taught, 
about twenty years. 

Several lady teachers of Parsonsfield have taught for a considerable length of 
time, and with good success, but I know the names of only a few of them. 

Mary Sweat, the sister of the late distinguished Doctor Moses Sweat, com- 
menced teaching about 1815, and taught in the Morrison district in Parsonsfield, 
and in Effingham, New Hampshire. She was also, for some time, assistant in 
LimQfick Academy. She was my first teacher, and I was led many a day to and 
from school by her protecting hand. I remember her, at a later period of my 
boyhood, as a cultivated lady of genteel manners, and fine personal appearance. 
She had the reputation of being an excellent teacher, and I have heard my father 
say that she had a remarkable faculty of comprehending the meaning of an au- 
thor, and was the best lady grammarian he ever knew. After an absence of 
about thirty-five years, I had the honor of receiving a call from her as one of her 
old pupils. She lived to an age of nearly fourscore years and ten (about eighty- 
nine years), to enjoy the happiness of a cultivated mind and a well-spent life. 

Ann Marston was engaged in teaching a little more than six years. She began 
to teach in 18-43, and taught in Kennebunkport, Newfleld, Parsonsfield, Tam- 
worth, New Hampshire, and Biddeford. By her kind treatment of her pupils, 
she gained their confidence and good-will, and secured thorough recitations in 
their studies. She had the faculty of preserving good order in her schools, and 
an aptitude for imparting knowledge. She gained a high reputation as an effi- 
cient and thorough teacher, and her services were eagerly sought by all who 
desired good schools and thorough teaching. 

Mehitable F. J. Wedgwood began teaching in 1847, and taught fifty-six terms, 
making about thirteen years — a longer time, I think, than any other female 
teacher of Parsonsfield. She taught in Newfield, Porter, Parsonsfield, Limerick, 
Monmouth, Cornish, Freedom, New Hampshire, Wolfborough, New Hamp- 
shire, Limington, HoUis, Biddeford, and Buxton. She was well qualified, of 
great industry, and gave excellent satisfaction as an accomplished and thorough 
teacher. 

Nancy Bailey began to teach about 1849. She taught six years in Biddeford, 
and gave good satisfaction. She was a good disciplinarian, and scholars made 
good improvement under her tuition. Her sister Caroline also taught four years 
in the same place, with marked success. 

Hannah E. Pray has been a teacher for about five years. She first began to 
teach in Parsonsfield, in 1868, and afterward taught in Freedom and Ossipee, 
New Hampshire. She was assistant in the High School at Cornish, in Liming- 
ton Academy, in Portland High School two years, and in Smithson College, In- 
diana, one year. She also taught music in Parsonsfield Seminary and other 
places. By her ability, close application to study, and judicious school manage- 
ment, she gained an excellent reputation as a competent and successful teacher. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 47 

The first High School ia Parsonsfield, of which I have any knowledge, was 
opened at the Middle Road Village,* through the efforts of Hon. Rufus Mcln- 
tire and Koah Tebbetts, Esq., in the fall of 1830. Although the common schools 
had been steadily improving from their commencement down to this time, yet 
they did not afford a sufficient education for the wants of the people. A school 
was needed in which more branches were taught without incurring the expense 
of sending scholars out of town, and paying high tuition. This need the High 
School was intended to supply. It was taught by Bion Bradbury, and continued 
only three months. It was greatly in advance of the common school. In addi- 
tion to the common English branches, instruction was given in history, astrono- 
my, natural philosophy, rhetoric, algebra, and the Latin language. Mr. Brad- 
bury was an excellent scholar, and the school made good improvement under his 
tuition. High Schools were afterward kept in different parts of the town for one 
term, in the fall season, for many years, and had a great influence in improving 
the education of the people. 

The good effect of this temporary High School at the Middle Road Village 
called the attention of several of the leading citizens of North Parsonsfield to the 
importance of a higher and more extended course of education than could then 
be obtained at the High School; and it was then determined to erect an academy 
building and open a school at that place, to be continued through the year, and 
in which a regular course of study might be pursued in all the English branches 
usually taught in academies, and students be fitted for college. The school was 
opened on the first Monday in September, 1832. It was not incorporated till Feb- 
ruary 6, 1833, and was called Parsonsfield Seminary. The first trustees were Elder 
John Buzzell, President; Doctor Moses Sweat, Secretary; Honorable Rufus Mcln- 
tire. Honorable Nathan Clifford, Robert T. Blazo, Esquire, Elder Henry Hobbs, 
Elder Samuel Burbank, Isaac Eelch, Colonel Simon J. Whitten, Samuel Allen, 
Major Thomas Churchill, and Benjamin McKenney. The institution was in 
operation about fifty years, from 1832 to 1881. The Principals who had charge of 
it during this time were Hosea Quimby, Edward P. Weston, Moses M. Smart,t 
John Fullonton, Oren B. Cheney, Porter S. Burbank, George H. Ricker, John 

* I have been informed that a school was opened in this village, for one or two terms, as early as 1818, 
in which the higher branches were taught, and scholars were admitted from other places. It was kept by 
a gentleman of the name of Senter, from Centre Harbor, New Hampshire. It was not called a High 
School. That name is of quite recent origin in this country. I do not remember having heard it used 
till 1828 or 1830. According to the Cyclopedia of Education, there was no free High School in the United 
States outside of Massachusetts, forming a part of the common school system, till 1837, when the Phila- 
delphia High School was established. In Scotland it dates back to quite a remote period, as in the case 
of the Edinburgh High School, which was in operation in the early part of the sixteenth century. 

t He was also Principal of the Biblical School, of which he was largely the originator, and which was 
established, in connection with the Seminary, by the Free- Will Baptist denomination in 1840, being 
designed for the education of young men for the ministry. In 1842, it was removed to Lowell, Massa- 
chusetts, and then, in 1814, to Whitestown, New York. He was Principal of the school ten years, from 
1840 to 1849, terminating his connection with it at Whitestown. It is now located at Lewiston, Maine. 



48 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

A. Lowell, George S. Bradley, Jonathan G. Leavitt, Eeiiben V. Jenness, Mal- 
colm Mclntire, William E.Thompson, Addison Small, Israel P. Quimby, Mad- 
ison K. Mabry, James Linscott, Orestes A. Kenerson, and Thomas F. Millett. 

Of the wisdom of those men who founded Parsonsfield Seminary, no one can 
doubt. The beneficial influence which it exerted throughout Parsonsfield and 
other towns in Maine and New Hampshire, and in other States, cannot be over- 
estimated. Teachers in great numbers were educated here, and others laid a 
solid foundation on which to build the superstructure of the professions which, 
as doctors, lawyers, clergymen, or scientists, they intended to pursue. Many 
were fitted for college, who afterward completed a college course, and have pur- 
sued a successful career in the different occupations and professions in which 
they chose to engage. Members of Congress, presidents and professors of col- 
leges, governors and missionaries to foreign lands are among the numbers who 
obtained their early education at this Seminary, There is scarcely a State in the 
Union in which there is not some person who once attended this school, to say 
nothing of those in foreign lands. But this institution is closed. The buildings 
stand in their pristine beauty, but no sound is heard in their halls. They are in- 
habited only by the pleasant memories of the past; but the same education, or a 
better one, is now needed by the people of Parsonsfield as was then furnished 
by that Seminary. 

Have we anything to take the place of that grand old school ? I think we have. 
It is the Parsonsfield Free High School, which was opened in the Seminary build- 
ing in September, 1881, with Harry L. Staples as Principal, who has the honor of 
being the first teacher of that school. His successors are David T. Timberlake, 
Silas A. McDaniel, and Morius Adams. The town was fortunate in having one 
of its own citizens of sufficient means and generosity to endow such a school. 
Such a citizen deserves more than a passing remark. 

Elisha Piper was born January 22, 1796, and was left an orphan at seven years 
of age, his father, Benjamin Piper, having died at the early age of thirty-three 
years. He was the oldest child, and the care and support of the family, consist- 
ing of a mother, brother, and two sisters, naturally devolved on him. Having 
had the assistance of a hired man for a few years, he assumed, at the age of 
fourteen or fifteen years, the entire management of the farm left by his father, 
and with the aid of his younger brother, Benjamin Piper, made it, before he was 
thirty years old, by superior cultivation, walling and cross-walling, and by im- 
provements of buildings, one of the handsomest and best farms in town. He 
was a person of uncommon industry, of a kind disposition, and of the highest 
integrity and moral character; and by these qualities, he gained the confidence 
and respect of the community in which he lived. Although he had only a com- 
mon school education himself, he desired to confer the advantages of a higher 
education on his successors. By his persistent labor, genius, and good judgment, 
he acquired a large property for one having no greater facilities for accumulating 




f^^ir^^ ^-^ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 49 

wealth, as he never engaged in trade or speculation of any kind. All this prop- 
erty, the accumulation of a lifetime of eighty-one years, and amounting to eleven 
thousand and fifty-six dollars, he gave freely and of his own accord to his native 
town, to establish a Free High School for the education of all its inhabitants. 
He died March 22, 1877. He had no children of his own, but by this noble gift 
he has made all the children of the town his by adoption; and, although he has 
rested from his labors here personally, he is still working with his money, and 
doing perhaps a greater work than while living. His name will be held in grate- 
ful remembrance by the young and the old in generations yet to come. May 
others who have the means imitate his example. 

It is evident that he intended that the High School should be equal, at least, 
to the old Seminary, but be placed on a more permanent basis, and, besides, be 
free. It becomes a question how this idea can be best carried out to its full ex- 
tent. I hope that it will not be thought inappropriate if I venture to give my 
views on this subject. 

First, the school, it seems to me, should be permanently located, which, I have 
no doubt, was the design of its founder. In my opinion, a great part of its suc- 
cess depends on this. Teachers want a permanent home. Parents, when they 
send their children to a school, want to know what accommodations they are to 
have, and when they have found them satisfactory, they wish that they should 
remain there undisturbed till they have completed their course of study. Besides, 
apparatus, cabinets, and libraries can not be removed from place to place with 
safety. The place where the school is located is of the first importance. It 
should be a place which is easy of access to all the inhabitants of the town. It 
should also be one which has conveniences for boarding, so that scholars, 
especially young ladies, will not be obliged to walk long distances in the winter 
season, or in rainy weather, and thus expose themselves to sickness and other 
inconveniences. It should be a place where there is an opportunity of attend- 
ing religious services regularly on the Sabbath, and, if it could be, a place which 
possesses natural beauties, where the scholars would be inspired with a love of 
nature, and acquire a taste for the beautiful. No donations for increasing the en- 
dowment can be expected until the school is permanently located. 

Second, courses of study should be pi'epared for the High School, and also a 
course for the common schools of the town, llegular classes should be formed 
in the latter, and be continued unbroken from one term to another, till the mem- 
bers are qualified to enter the High School. They should be examined by the 
Superintending School Committee of the town, at the end of the school year, and 
receive a certificate of their qualifications, which would entitle them to admis- 
sion to the High School. 

The course of study for the common schools should embrace spelling, reading, 
writing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography, history of the United States, 
and a manual of morals and politeness. There should be for the High School 
4 



50 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

an English course of three years, a mixed course of four years, and a classical 
course of three years, for preparing scholars for college. These courses should 
be modeled after those of the best high schools in the state; and, if so, the 
Parsonstield Free High School will be equal, if not superior, to the old Semi- 
nary in its best days. The English course should embrace, at least, English 
grammar and analysis, arithmetic, book-keeping, natural philosophy, chemistry, 
algebra, rhetoric, physiology, history, geometry, zoology, botany, trigonometry and 
surveying, geology, mental philosoi^hy, and moral philosophy. The mixed course 
should embrace the studies of the English course, and the Latin and French 
languages. The classical course should embrace the Latin and Greek languages, 
and the other branches now required for admission to college. 

It is thought by some that the Latin and Greek languages should not form 
any part of a high school course of study. It is said that they are dead lan- 
guages, and are of no use to us now. This can hardly be said, with propriety, 
in the sense in which the terra is generally understood by the people — that is, 
that they have entirely passed away, and have now no connection with any other 
language whatever. They are both spoken, in a modified form, at the present 
time — the Latin in Italy, called the Italian language, and the Greek in Greece — 
not very much more changed than the English language has been since the time 
of Kobert of Gloucester, the poet, who wrote in the thirteenth century. 

It is said by recent philologists that a proportion, varying from ten to thirty 
per cent of our English words commonly used by our best waiters, is derived 
from the Latin and Greek.* The proportion so derived, when compared with all 
the words in the English language, is much greater. " A trustworthy estimate 
of the derivative words found in our great dictionaries makes nearly five-sevenths 
of them to be of classical derivation,"! that is, from the Latin and Greek. 
!^3'ew words derived from these languages are added every year, as new branches 
of science are developed. The scientific names of objects belonging to the natural 
sciences, as botany, zoology, and physiology, are nearly all Latin, or Greek Lat- 
inized. So in medicine and law, there are many words, phrases, and sentences 
which are all Latin, and need to be understood. While learning the Latin, we 
are also acquiring a large part of four other languages — the Italian, Spanish, 
French, and Portuguese, which are founded upon it, and, in a great measure, 
grew out of it. These languages are often called, by philologists, dialects of the 
Latin. Besides this, a large vocabulary of English words and synonyms is ac- 
quired which are necessary to fit scholars to become ready speakers and good 
writers, and which can be acquired in no other way. 

The study of the Latin and Greek languages can not be excluded from our 
high schools without serious detriment to them. Every high school should 
be able to fit students for college, otherwise many a brilliant scholar will be de- 
prived of a college education, not being able to incur the expense of going from 

* Professor Whitney's Life and Growth of Language. 

t The same author. Also Trench— English Past and Present. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 5 1 

home to be fitted at some other school. If, however, a scholar can remain only 
a year or two in the high school, it would be better for him, unless he intends to 
pursue a profession, to devote his attention to English branches. Important as 
these languages are, as being the basis of a thorough education, and indispensa- 
ble to the professional man and the scholar, too much attention has undoubtedly 
been given to them in our colleges in former times for the generality of stu- 
dents; and some of these institutions, seeing this, have left the study of them 
optional after the freshman year, thus giving more time to be devoted to the 
natural sciences, which have become of so much more practical importance than 
formerly. It may be thought by some that it is a long time to devote to study, 
to complete any one of the courses that have been named for the High School, 
but it should be remembered that, aside from the happiness which the attain- 
ment would bring to the individual, much more can be accomplished in life, in 
the same time, by the educated than the uneducated person. Educated labor is 
also much better remunerated than uneducated; and, when usefulness is consid- 
ered, the difference is much greater in favor of education. 

Third, the school should receive an additional endowment of at least three 
times the amount now possessed, and be continued through the year, with 
the usual vacations, unconnected with any other school, to make it of the high 
order necessary to meet the present wants of the town. The money should be 
held by the town as a sacred trust, and invested in town, county, state, or gov- 
ernment securities, so as to be forever free from the possibility of being lost. 
A good school must have good teachers. The qualification of teachers of first- 
class high schools are veiy extensive, embracing the whole circle of the sciences. 
Probably no profession requires more learning. They must, therefore, be liber- 
ally paid for their services, so that they may be able to make teaching a profes- 
sion for many years or a lifetime, as no teacher of such a school can be useful, 
in the highest degree, till he has had an experience of two or three years in the 
business, and time to perfect himself in the numerous branches of learning re- 
quired to be taught. Teachers should not be often changed, as it usually greatly 
retards the progress of the school. 

Eor this endowment, the school must look to the wealthy sons of Parsonsfield 
who are now citizens, or have gone out into other towns or states. Few country 
towns are more fortunate in this class of persons. Some of them are able to 
give ten thousand dollars apiece, and then have an abundance left for their chil- 
dren, if they have any, and for all their relatives or friends whom they may wish 
to remember. Perhaps one of the best ways to raise this fund would be to es- 
tablish scholarships, each scholarship being five hundred dollars, or a sum bearing 
interest sufficient to educate one scholar for a year. The scholarships should be 
called by the names of the donors, as the William Bradford scholarship, the 
John Winthrop scholarship, etc. The names of the benefactors should be re- 
corded in the records of the town and of the school, with the number of schol- 



52 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD, 

arships which each founded. Some might found twenty, others ten, or one, 
according to their means or liberality. Perhaps it would not be altogether a 
childish idea to have the names, with the amounts contributed, engraved on a 
brass tablet, and put up in some place in the school building where all could read 
them, and see who have been the benefactors and truly great men and women of 
the town — great as they were good. Certificates might also be given to the schol- 
ars, on entering the school, showing on whose scholarships they were to be edu- 
cated. This course would keep the names of the benefactors in grateful remem- 
brance, and hold up their noble example for the imitation of others. 

"Would not the town also do something for the support of this school ? Perhaps it 
would be willing, now that it is able and needs such a school to complete its school sys- 
tem, to contribute henceforth the sixty dollars received annually from the thirteen 
hundred and thirty dollars for which the land given for the support of a grammar 
school was sold. It is the very kind of school which the jDroprietors of the town 
designed to establish when they gave the three lots of land for the support of a 
grammar school. The name grammar school did not then mean the same kind 
of a school that we understand it to mean now. It meant a school in which 
scholars were taught not in English branches onl}^, but were also fitted for college. 
The name is of ancient origin, and dates back as far as the twelfth century. It 
-was brought over to this country from England by the first settlers, and was used 
to distinguish this school from the common school, in which grammar was not 
then taught. " By free school and free grammar school, in the early records of 
towns and of the General Court of Connecticut and Massachusetts," says Mr. 
Henry Barnard, "was not intended the common or public school, as afterward 
developed, particularly in Massachusetts, supported by tax, and free of all charge 
to all scholars, rich and poor; neither was it a charity school exclusively for the 
poor. The term was applied here, as well as in the early acts of Virginia and 
other states, in the same sense in which it was used in England at the same and 
much earlier dates, to characterize a grammar school, unrestricted as to a class 
of children or scholars specified in the instrument by which it was founded, and 
so supported as not to depend on the fluctuating attendance and tuition of schol- 
ars for the maintenance of a master. In every instance in which we have traced 
their history, the free grammar schools of New England were endowed by grants of 
land, by gifts and bequests of individuals, or by allowance out of the common 
stock of the town, and were designed especially for instruction in Latin and 
Greek, and were supported in part by payments of tuition or rates by parents. 
These schools were the well-springs of classical education in the country, and 
were the predecessors of the incorporated academies, which do not appear under 
•that name until a comparatively recent period." '-The gradual development of 
the common school system in the United States, joined with the partial decline of 
Xiatin and Greek as instruments of education, and the demand for studies of a 
aiiore practical character, that is, more in demand as a preparation for the ordi- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 53 

nary duties of life, have led to a different application of the term grammar schools. 
The study of English grammar having taken the place of Latin grammar in 
schools of an elementary grade, such schools came to be designated grammar 
schools, and the former grammar or classical schools received the name of high 
schools or academies."* 

Shakespeare was educated at the "Free Grammar School" at Stratford-upon- 
Avon, in which there was a course of study in mathematics, with some other 
English branches, and also in Latin and Greek; and students were fitted for the 
university. May not Parsonslield produce a Shakespeare ? O, that it might one 
of his genius, but without his faults. This school was free only to a certain class 
of persons, not to all, as the Parsonslield Free High School is. 

Fourth, scholars from other towns should be admitted to the school by paying 
tuition, the price being such as would encourage their patronage. If the school 
should be of the high order contemplated, quite an income might be derived from 
this source, which might be appropriated to the payment of teachers and the pur- 
chase of apparatus, etc. 

I have now traced the history of the schools of Parsousfield for a hundred 
years, and I think it will be admitted that our fathers have made a good record — 
perhaps I ought to say an excellent one. It is now incumbent on us, who are 
entering on a second century, to make one as good. With all the experience and 
wealth accumulated since their time, we ought to make a better one. If we 
carry out the suggestions which have been made, and those which the wisdom 
of the town may adopt, I think we can; and that there is a bright prospect for 
the education of the town in the future. I do not suppose that all of them can 
be put in operation at once, but a beginning can be made immediately. When 
the High School has been located and courses of study formed for it and for the 
common schools, an ambition will be created in the scholars to obtain a higher 
education, and parents will be stimulated to greater efforts to help them along in 
their laudable undertaking, remembering that education is the best legacy that they 
can leave them. ll is not expected, nor is it desirable, that parents should give 
their children much money. If they give them a good education, they will get 
their own money, and will keep it. 

Of the value of an education it seems hardly necessary to say anything fur- 
ther. All, I think, are agreed as to its importance. It adorns every position. 
It brings to its possessor usefulness, influence, honor, and generally a competence 
and happiness. Every star that twinkles.in the vault of heaven, every flower 
that expands its delicate petals to drink in the dews of the morning, every insect 
that sports in the noonday sun, and every grain of sand,, however insignificant,, 
that we tread under our feet, opens volumes to the educated person for his study 
and delight, and leads him up to the great Creator of all things, whose greatness 
can be fully comprehended only by studying His works. It is the strong pillar of 
* Cyclopiedia of Education — under grammar scliools. 



54 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

liberty, and uo free government can long exist without it. It is a great civilizer 
of mankind, and has swept away the superstitions and speculations of past 
ages, and placed our knowledge on the firm basis of inductive reasoning and 
mathematical demonstration. 

Notwithstanding this agreement on the main question of the importance of an 
education, there is often a grave mistake made by young persons, and sometimes 
by older ones, as to the amount necessary to the highest success. Some person 
is selected by them of great natural abilities, who, with only a common school 
education, has attained to great eminence, and then he is compared with another 
of less abilities — perhaps a college graduate, who has been highly educated, but 
has not attained to distinction; and then the conclusion is drawn that a thorough 
education is of no value, and that the time and money spent in acquiring it are 
thrown away. The comparison is not just. Take two persons of the same natural 
abilities in every respect, and place them in similar circumstances, and it will 
certainly be found that he who has been the more thoroughly educated will rise 
to greater distinction and usefulness than the other. Natural abilities must be 
developed by culture and education before they can be made in the highest de- 
gre'e available. There are things which must be learned by previous study from 
books before they can be known. A person of the greatest abilities could not 
solve a problem in algebra or geometry before he had learned the principles on 
which the solution depended, although it might be of the greatest utility in its 
practical application. In this respect, the person who has received a thorough 
education evidently has a great advantage over him who has an inferior one. It 
is often forgotten, also, that those persons who have succeeded with little educa- 
tion, at the beginning of their career, have been diligent students all their lives, 
and by degrees have acquired an education Avhich has made them masters of their 
professions. Of such was Franklin. It is a noteworthy fact, also, that such per- 
sons have almost invariably regretted that they did not pursue a thorough course 
of study in their youth, and thus relieve themselves of the embarrassment and 
labor of acquiring an education at a later period of life. 

Cicero, in his oration for Archias, the poet, has finely illustrated this subject. 
After speaking of the eminent men of Greece and Rome who had become dis- 
tinguished in history for their great deeds and success in life, he says: " But were 
those great men, it will be asked, who are celebrated in history, distinguished for 
that kind of learning which you extol so highly ? It would be difficult to prove 
this of all, but yet what I shall answer: is certain. I admit that there have been 
many men of excellent mind and distinguished for nobleness of character, who, 
without learning and by the almost divine force of nature itself, have been wise 
and judicious; and also that natural abilities without learning are more effectual 
in attaining distinction and nobleness than learning without natural abilities; but 
then I affirm that, when to excellent natural abilities the discipline and culture 
of learning are added, then something very great and extraordinary will gener- 
ally result." 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 55 

The argument is here summed up in a few words, showing that great natural 
abilities without learning will accomplish much, but when they are improved by 
learning, much more. Education will not make natural abilities, but it will de- 
velop them and adapt them to the various vocations of life. It is not, there- 
fore, safe to rely too much on the idea of great natural abilities; for, when a 
person measures his own with those of others in the school-room, in the college- 
hall, or in the great arena of life, he will generally find some one who has 
greater abilities than himself, and that he will be obliged to use all his energy, 
and cultivate all the abilities which he may possess, in order to make a creditable 
record with his competitors. 

A higher education is now demanded than ever before. All professional men 
know that an education which would give them success forty years ago would 
not be sufficient for them now. A great portion of our young men and young 
women, when of sufficient age, now leave their native town, and go into other 
states to seek their fortunes, and they must be qualified to compete with those 
whom they meet there, or they will be obliged to take inferior positions. In 
some of the states young women are taking the same college course as the young 
men, and the professors say that they are quite as good scholars. In Illinois 
University there were, the present year (1885), two hundred and ninety-two young 
men and seventy young women; in the University of Minnesota, two hundred 
and twenty-seven young men and eighty-three young women; in Bates College, 
in our own state, one hundred and six young men and eighteen young women. 
Nineteen young women have graduated from Bates College since it was first 
opened. This is the first college in 'New England from which a young woman has 
graduated. England has caught the American spirit, and has recently established 
four female colleges, Newnham and Girton at Cambridge, and Somerville and 
Lady Margaret's at Oxford, a thing which it never did before until within a few 
years. Miss Helen Gladstone is at the head of one of those at Cambridge, 
and Miss Lefevre, sister of the postmaster-general, presides over one of those at 
Oxford. Seeing the great efforts which others are making in other states and 
other countries to provide a thorough education for the people, we should emu- 
late their example, and take care that they may not surpass us in knowledge 
and literary culture. 

I have given some attention to the study of the different races of mankind. 
The Teutonic race, of which we, the iVnglo-Saxon race, are a branch, is unsur- 
passed, if equaled, by any other in physical development, energy of character, 
and intellectual capacity. It is the great race which is now leading the world in 
science, literature and the useful arts, which invented the art of printing* and 
the printing-press, the steam engine, the magnetic telegraph, the telephone, the 
phonograph, and the spectroscope, which has brought down the sun, moon, and 

* According to the best authorities, the art of printing with mov.able types or letters was invented by 
Johann Gutenberg about 1-136. The Chinese printed books fromblocl^s of wood, with the writing engraved 
upon them, as far back as the sixth century, and perhaps much farther. 



56 HISTORY OF PARSON SFIEL'D. 

stars to us foi' our inspection, and made us almost as well acquainted with the 
elements of which they are composed as we are Mdth those of the earth on which 
Ave live. I am proud to say that the people of Parsonsfield belong to this race. 
We have a foundation, then, to build upon, and if we are willing to work and 
cultivate the faculties which God has given us, we can compete with any people 
on the face of the globe. Let, then, the people of this old and venerable town 
set their standard of education high, and lay it down as a fixed principle that they 
will not be surpassed, that no ignorant person shall go out of Parsonsfield, but 
that all, if possible, shall have the trade-mark stamped upon them, " Educated at 
the Parsonsfield Free High School;" therefore, fitted for all business, for all posi- 
tions, and worthy to be admitted into any society in this or any other country. 





04^ ju/i^ 




REV. JOSEPH RICKER. D.D. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 57 

THE COLLEGE GRADUATES OF PARSONSFIELD. 

BY JOSEPH RICKER, D. D., OF AUGUSTA. 

College training is by no means indispensable to distinguished success in the 
various callings of life. For ample proof of this, we need not go beyond the 
limits of this goodly town whose founding it is our joy to celebrate to-day. In 
the realm of teaching, many of us will readily recall to mind such names as Jon- 
athan Piper, David Garland, Samuel Wiggin, and Ira C. Doe; in the realm of 
professional life, James Bradbury, Moses Sweat and Gilman L. Bennett; in the 
realm of business pursuits, Bartlett, John and Charles Doe, John and Edwin 
Sanborn, G. M. Wentworth, J. J. Merrill, and the Ames brothers; and in the 
realm of official trust and service, Luther Sanborn, Alvah Doe, and John Ben- 
nett. Not one of all these or of hosts of others who are equally deserving of 
mention, ever sojourned in college halls, or enjoyed, in the technical sense, a 
college training. Their opportunities, on the contrary, were mostly limited to 
the common school and the Academy. And yet with what credit to themselves, 
and advantage to the public have they exercised the callings to which they sev- 
erally addicted themselves. 

All this, of course, is not saying that the severe and wholesome discipline 
which comes from a brave and worthy encounter with the tough problems that 
stud the college curriculum, might not have made these men more potent factors 
in society. On the contrary, it is certain that such a discipline would have 
greatly augmented their power to mould others to their methods of thought and 
action. But the fact still remains that they succeeded, and succeeded grandly, 
without the college — succeeded because they had that, without which the college 
is of little worth, viz.: brains, and brains that were re-enforced with moral 
stamina, purpose, persistence, and steadiness of aim. Without brains, the very 
gods would be unvictorious in the battle of life. If one be a dunce at the start, 
a dunce he will continue to be, no matter how classic the ground he may tread, 
or rigid the discipline to which he may be subjected. The grindstone may give 
the steel its edge, but never its temper. And so of the college. Its mission is 
not so much to put anything into a man, as to draw out and make effective what 
is already there, — not so much to store the mind with a knowledge of mere facts 
as to broaden its horizon, sharpen its powers of observation, and give it skill to 
grasp, judgment to classify, and capacity to use the wealth of resources that lie 
in profusion on every side of it. It is only as it makes one stronger and better 
for the race of life, that it is of any worth. Brought to this test, what must be 
the conclusion with respect to the somewhat large group of our brothers who 
have gone into and through college, from this town ? As far as the writer has 
been able to ascertain, their names are as follows: 

James "Ware Bradbury, John Usher Parsons, Edmund Garland, Amos Tuck, 
Thomas Parsons Emerson, William B. Wedgwood, Moses Mighels Smart, Zeuas 



58 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Paine Wentwortb, Moses Erastus Sweat, Lorenzo DeM. Sweat, Isaac Xewton 
Telch, Horace Piper, George Benson, Joseph Eicker, Joseph Garland, Charles 
Henry Emerson, Burleigh Pease, William D. Knapp, Malcolm Mclntire, Cj^rus 
Fogg Brackett, William Ricker Thompson, Horace Rundlette Cheney, John 
Holmes Band, Melville C. Towle, Andrew Jackson Eastman, Isaiah F. Pray, 
Edwin James Cram, John Arthur Cram, Oliver Libbey, Franklin Pierce Moul- 
ton, Alvah Pray Moulton, Edward John Colcord, Alanson Bean Merrill, Harry 
L. Staples, Frank Herbert Pease. 

It surely is not strange that the town should have been forty years old ere she 
could claim among her sons a single college graduate. Her pioneer settlers were 
a hardy race, full of stalwart pluck and vigor, but almost to a man, dependent 
upon their daily toil for their daily bread. Her hills were many and precipitous, 
her primeval forests yielded slowly, and after incredible toil, to the woodman's 
axe, her highways were difficult of construction, and her homes were made com- 
fortable and attractive, only by long years of waiting, and watching, and work. 
Her sons wrought amid scenery of almost peerless grandeur, but they were 
forced to battle bravely and persistently for whatever they acquired. Their 
labors were manifold, their luxuries few. Every member of each particular 
human hive had to make his or her contribution to the common store, or want, if 
not suffering, would be the consequence. The boys were many, but could be 
spared from field and shop only for a few weeks in the winter when the district 
school was in session, and not always, even then. The Academy was a luxury 
not to be thought of save by the families of the half dozen professional men and 
merchants of the to-wn. And so it chanced that, from the birth of the munici- 
pality in 1785 until many years beyond the date of its majority, it had no son to 
represent it at any college in the land. In 1825, however, there came a change. 
In that year 

' James "Ware Bradbury, 

Who honors us with his presence today, and who, both by age and position, 
is entitled to be regarded as the Xestor of the occasion, stepped forth from 
Bowdoin's halls upon the stage of active life, with the warm benediction of his 
Alma Mater upon him. For classmates, he had such men as Henry W. Long- 
fellow, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Geo. B. Cheever, Josiah Stover Little, and the 
like. At Commencement, of the three English orations assigned. Little had one, 
with the Valedictory Addresses, and Longfellow and Bradbury the other two. 
After devoting one year to teaching, Mr. Bradbury read law successively with 
Hon. Eufus Mclntire of this town and Hon. Ether Shepley, at a later day a dis- 
tinguished Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine. Upon the 
completion of his law studies, he devoted an interval of a few months that must 
elapse ere there would be any opportunity for his admission to the bar, to teach- 
ing in Effingham, N. H., what is believed to have been the first Normal School in 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 59 

'Nevf England. He would take the school only on condition that it should be for 
the instruction and training of teachers. The idea was his own, and at the time, 
entirely novel. No such school is known to have antedated it, and few have 
been more successful. The incident is noteworthy. 

In 1830, Mr. Bradbury opened a law office in Augusta, then recently made the 
capital of the state. This step brought him into professional contact and com- 
petition with such men as George Evans, Peleg Sprague, Keuel Williams, Timo- 
thy Boutdlle and others of like eminence. To obtain foothold in a field so occu- 
pied, called for labor that knew little pause, and ability that could not be lightly 
challenged. But the then youthful aspirant proved equal to the emergency. In 
no long time, his clientage grew to very large proportions. 

This tide of prosperitj' continued without check until 1846, when he was 
elected to the United States Senate. And here again he was signally fortunate 
in the character of his associates, including, as they did, such men as "Webster, 
Clay, Calhoun, Benton, Cass, Seward, and other great names, not a few. His 
Senatorial career of six years embraced the somewhat stormy period of the Mex- 
ican war. He enjoyed the rare honor of serving upon the Judiciary Committee 
throughout his entire term of office. He was also made chairman of the com- 
mittee on Printing, and a member of several other committees. Declining to be 
a candidate for re-election, he returned to the city of his adoption, and resumed 
the practice of law. 

His service, first as an Overseer, and since 1860 as a Trustee of Bowdoin Col- 
lege, has been as marked for its efficiency as for its length. In 1872 his Alma 
Mater conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws, an honor well and worth- 
ily bestowed. He has been an active member of the Maine Historical Society, 
and since 1873, its President. 

He has, moreover, for years, counted it both a privilege and an honor to be 
reckoned as a worker among fellow-workers in the Christian church. With such 
a life of exemplary industry and conspicuous success behind him, he is here at 
the summons of his mother and ours, to aid in the glad celebration of her one 
hundredth birthday. 

John Usher Parsons, 

The next graduate in the order of time, was a grandson of Thomas Parsons, 
the original proprietor of the town. He was born in 1806, and completed his 
college course at Bowdoin in 1828, and his theological course at Andover, in 1831. 
His life and labors were singularly versatile. He preached in more than half of 
the then States of the Union, and served through several pastorates, besides 
giving himself to the work of an Evangelist at different times and for considera- 
ble periods. He was active in establishing a Seminary in Indiana, and a college 
in Wisconsin, to say nothing of his labors as a teacher in Indiana, Georgia, and 
New Hampshire. He published elementary text books which were widely circu- 
lated. Two of the issues of the American Tract Society were from his pen. The 



60 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

more imiDortant of his works are " A Biblical Analysis," "The Philanthropies and 
Practical Workings of Christianity," and "The Gospel of Christ, the only Gospel 
of Humanity." Ecclesiastically, he affiliated with the Congregationalists. To 
good scholarship he added earnestness, energy and aggressiveness, and had he 
confined his efforts to a single sphere of activity, he must have achieved eminent 
success. He died of paralysis at Wellesley, Mass., in 1874. 

Edmund Garland. 

Of this alumnus of Dartmouth, the writer only knows that he was the third 
son of Dea. Samuel Garland, one of the strong and stable pillars of the town in 
the olden time, and that, after his college and seminary course, he entered the 
ministry of the Congregationalist church, and during most of his long life, exer- 
cised his sacred calling with zeal and efiiciency in the State of Ohio. At the 
time of his death, which occurred in the near past, he must have been upwards 
of four score. 

Amos Tuck 

Is a name that deserves honorable mention in this connection. Born in 1810, 
and like most of the then boys of the town, held to service on the paternal 
acres until nearly grown to manhood, he began to feel within him a hungry 
craving for larger attainments in knowledge and a wider sphere of activity. 
Accordingly, at the age of seventeen, he left home, and for the benefit of both 
purse and brain, devoted himself alternately to school teaching and study. At 
the age of twenty-one he entered Dartmouth College, and graduated therefrom 
with signal honor in 1835. He then resumed teaching, devoting, however, such 
considerable intervals as he could spare from school duties to the reading of law. 
This he continued for nearly three years, when he resigned as Principal of the 
academy in Hampton, N. H., and entered the law office of Hon. James Bell, of 
Exeter, in the same state. Having completed his preliminary law studies, he 
formed a co-partnership with Mr. Bell in December, 1838, which was only ter- 
minated b}' his election to Congress in 1847, nine years thereafter. Meanwhile, 
however, he served one year as a member of the Legislature of his own state. 
His Congressional career of six years was alike honorable to himself and satis- 
factory to his constituents. In 1853 he cea sed to represent his district in the 
National councils, and resumed the practice of law. 

As a member of the " Peace Congress " which sat in Washington on the eve of 
the rebellion, he was made chairman of the committee of the Northern members 
of that body to present to the slave power the ultimatum of the free states. In 
1860 he was an active member of the convention that nom inated Abraham Lin- 
coln to the highest office in the land. In 1861, he was appointed Naval Officer 
in Boston, and re-appointed in 1865. D uring the remaining years of his life he 
was engaged in extensive business operations, that took him to Europe more 
han once or twice. 



fi 



(O 





a/cii-Md — 



^ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 6 1 

He was a Trustee of Dartmouth College, of Phillips Exeter Academy, of the 
Robinson Female Seminary, and of other Institutions of learning. He died 
very suddenly, December 11, 1879. 

It was a just as well as graceful tribute that Mr. Tuck's pastor paid to his 
memory in a discourse immediately subsequent to his decease. Did time allow, 
it would be pleasant to repeat in this presence, the calm, chaste, and thoughtful 
estimate of his life and character as thus delineated in the presence of his sor- 
rowing fellow-townsmen. Suffice it to say that it was such a portraiture as any 
one must have anticipated who knew the subject of it in the early flush of man- 
hood, but had never met him afterward. Of such sons, their native town may 
well be proud. 

Thomas Parsons Emerson, 

Another grandson of Thomas Parsons, the original proprietor of the town, 
was born in 1809, and was graduated at Bowdoin in 1836. After teaching for 
some time in Virginia, he pursued theological study in Lane Seminary, Ohio, 
and was ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian, church. He labored in the 
pastorate for a limited period, and then accepted an appointment as a home mis- 
sionary, a sphere of toil to which he gave himself earnestly and successfully for 
thirty years. " In his manifold ministrations he rode many thousands of miles, 
once declaring that his most effective sermons were thought out on horseback, 
as he drove from church to church. He thus labored in four or five contiguous 
states. In 1870 he was commissioned for service in Kansas, but soon after 
reaching his field of labor his health failed, and he returned to the home he had 
left, and died in November of that year. His self-denying spirit and his earnest 
devotion, as already stated, led him to choose his field of effort among feeble and 
destitute churches, thus seeking not his own honor, but the honor of Him whom 
he served." 

William B. Wedgwood, 

Like many others who in the end have made their influence widely felt, was 
an orphaned and penniless boy. He was born and reared in Parsonsfield. His 
adopted home, though wholesome as to its moral and religious tone, brought 
with it manifold toils. But in the face of whatever obstacles lay in his path, he 
forced his way onward and upward until, in 1832, he found himself sufficiently 
advanced in preparatory studies to be admitted to Waterville College, now Colby 
University, where he remained during the larger part of the course. He how- 
ever left toward its close, and entered the University of New York City, where 
he graduated in 1836. After teaching two years, he read law under the tuition 
of eminent jurists, and in 1841 was admitted to practice at the New York bar. 

In connection with his early practice he gave much time and thought to the 
dissemination of a better knowledge of our institutions and laws among the 
masses of the people. To this end he prepared a work on the constitution and 



62 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

laws of New York, which sold to the extent of one hundred thousand copies^ 
and more. "With the same object in view, he also got up a series of popular 
debates, in which Horace Greeley, J. L. O'SuUivan, George Cheever, and Sam- 
uel Hanson Cox were the principal disputants. In 1845 he visited England, and 
while in London was invited to deliver a lecture, which attracted favorable 
notice in high quarters. His subject was Slavery in the United States. In 1846 
he returned to New York and to his chosen profession, and was engaged in 
many of the most important suits of that day. 

The initial steps toward the establishment of a Law School in connection with 
the New York University-, were instituted by Prof. Wedgwood, and when, at 
length, the school was founded, he was placed at its head. He was also largely 
instrumental a few years later in founding the National University at Washing- 
ton, of which he became Vice-Chancellor, the President of the United States 
being, ex-officio, Chancellor. To this institution he gave his services for the 
space of nine years. In 1860 the degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon 
him by Kutger's College, N. J. 

In 1867 Prof. Wedgwood brought out his work on the Government and Laws 
of the United States, and in 188.3 a further work on Civil Service Eeform. He 
moreover took a deep and practical interest in the War of the Rebellion, the 
emancipation of slaves, and, indeed, in all the great crises through which the 
country has passed since he came upon the stage of action. His course of life 
has brought him into contact with many great men and great questions, and it is 
pleasant to note that his aims and instincts appear always to have been on the 
side of right. To educate the masses of the people, and so raise them to a higher 
plane of intelligence and virtue, is a work that may well challenge the best 
efforts of the best minds of which this country or any country can boast. 

[Prof. Wedgwood died in Parsonsfield a few months before the above sketch 
reached the hands of the printer.] 

Moses Mighels Smart 

Graduated from Waterville College, now Colby University, in 1836, from the 
Bangor Theological Seminary in 1839, and from the Central Medical College, 
Syracuse, N. Y.,in 1850. He also read law, and in 1843 was admitted to the 
York County bar in this state. He, however, studied law and medicine, as sci- 
ences, and not with a view to the practice of either of them as a profession. He 
supplemented his theological studies at Bangor with a post-graduate course of 
one year at Andover, and in 1840 took charge of the Freewill Baptist Biblical 
School, then just established, and remained in charge of it for nine years. Dur- 
ing that period the school was located, successively, at Parsonsfield, Me., Lowell, 
Mass., and Whitestown, N. Y., and was the first theological school ever founded 
by the denomination. 

^ince 1849, Dr. Smart has been engaged in teaching, and writing Biblical 
works. Besides his "Biblical Doctrine," published in 1843, he has in manuscript 



' *}^^m 




^""fhfs/j,, 



''''"■''"' Bcst.„ 



MOSES E. SWEAT ,A.M .M.O 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 63 

"A Chronological History from the Creation of the World to the Present Cen- 
tury," a work on " Moral Philosophy," and " Elements of Hebrew, consisting of 
Grammar, Keader, and Lexicon." Verily such a life, now far into the seventies, 
must have been one of scrupulous, earnest, and incessant toil. From the exam- 
ples already adduced, who will venture the assertion that college-bred men do 
not belong to the laboring classes ? 

[Dr. Smart died at his home in Whitestown, N, Y., October 2, 1885, aged sev- 
enty-three 3^ears.] 

Zenas Paine Wentworth 

"Was an alumnus of Dartmouth, of the class of 1836, Immediately upon the 
completion of his law studies he opened an office, and commenced practice in 
Houlton, the shire town of Aroostook County. His physical constitution was far 
from strong, but he was a man of standing and influence in his adopted town 
and county, serving for a time as Trial Justice, and afterward as Judge of Pro- 
bate, until the state of his health compelled him to resign. He was born in 1809, 
and was never married. In 1864, Judge Wentworth, physically enfeebled, and 
unfitted for professional service, returned to the old homestead in this town, 
where he died September 2, of that year. 

Moses Erastus Sweat 

Is an alumnus of Bowdoin, and a member of the class of '37. To say that 
he is a worthy son of a worthy sire, is eulogy so high that one feels like uttering 
it with bated breath, especially in the presence of its subject. For those of us 
who remember the father, know well what such a declai-ation must include. 
Nevertheless the remark would readily find justification in the facts of the case. 
Upon the completion of his novitiate as a medical student in 1840, Dr. Sweat 
settled in Limington, and practiced his profession there until 1862, a period of 
twenty-two years. He then returned to the old homestead where he was born, 
and reared, and fitted for his life-work, and where he has since been in constant 
practice, going out and in before the people, after what sort, they well know. 
Besides holding sundry town offices, he has once represented his district in the 
State Legislature. 

Lorenzo De M. Sweat, 

A brother and classmate of the above, has been notably prominent in both 
private and public life. After his graduation from college, he read law with 
Hon. Piufus Mclntire, availed himself of the advantages of the Harvard LaAV 
School, completed his legal studies with Howard and Osgood in Portland, and 
was admitted to the Cumberland bar in 1840. After spending a year or so in 
New Orleans — a portion of it in the office of the late distinguished Pierre Soule, 
he returned to Portland, where he has continued to reside to the present time. 
In 1861 and 1862 he was a member of the Maine Senate, and in the latter year 



64 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

was elected to represent his district at "VVasliington, and served with zeal and 
ability through the thirty-eighth Congress. To all the wealth of privilege ac- 
corded him by the fickle goddess, have been added the liberalizing and refining 
influences of foreign travel. To an exceptional extent, his lines have fallen to 
him in pleasant i^laces. 

Isaac N'ewton Felch 

Was born in December, 1815, and graduated from Bowdoin in 1838. He soon 
established himself in Belfast, where at first he engaged in commercial business, 
but afterward studied law, and was admitted to the Waldo bar in 1813. He, 
however, did not practice his profession extensively, but was more especially 
known as deputy collector of customs, and publisher and editor of the Waldo 
Signal. He also repeatedly served as a member of the State Legislature. In 
1855 he removed to Portland, and took editorial charge of the Evening Courier. 
His last years were spent in Gorhani and Hollis. He died at the latter place 
in 1870. 

Horace Piper 

Was born in 1810, and graduated from Bowdoin in 1838. His life has been a 
very busy one. For several j^ears before entering upon the higher courses of 
study, he gave himself largely and successfully to the teaching of district schools. 
Immediately upon his graduation he took charge of Limerick Academy, and 
remained at its head for six years, when he became Principal of the Biddeford 
High School. Here he labored continuously, and to good purpose, ten years 
more. Simultaneously with these labors, he was a member, for York County, of 
the Board of Education of the State of Maine for three years, from 1816 to 1819, 
and held Teachers' Institutes, one term of two weeks each year, which were 
largely attended by the teachers of the county. In all, his career as teacher 
covered a period of about twenty years. He then went to Washington, where 
he was for nine years in the service of the government. While there he pur- 
sued a regular course of legal study, and graduated from the I^ational L^niver- 
sity, thus taking the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He, however, pursued the 
study as a science, and not with the purpose of practicing law as a profession. 
He has never published any books in his own name, but was associated with Dr. 
Salem Town for about two years in the preparation of his Progressive Series of 
Readers, consisting of six books. He also assisted Mr. Benjamin Greenlief, the 
distinguished mathematician, about six months in the revision of his Common 
School Arithmetic. He moreover prepared a copious index for forty of the 
Annual Reports of the Agricultural Department at Washington, besides furnish- 
ing many original articles for the same. And yet there are people not a few 
who are accustomed to think that men of letters are, as a matter of course, men 
of leisure! 




"n., 






»'/.» 



BURLEIGH PEASE A.M. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 65 

George Washington Benson 

Graduated at Dartmouth in 1841, and died in Lawrence, Mass., in 1859, at the 
age of forty-three. He was a fine scholar, and a young man of excellent moral 
character. To an attractive presence he added other qualities that made him a 
general favorite. He chose the law for his profession, and opened an office in 
Lawrence in 1844. His prospects for a long and successful career were flatter- 
ing. Besides being City Clerk, he was representative for one or more years to 
the General Court of his adopted state. But in the midst of his successes he 
was stricken with apoplexy, or some kindred malady, and died almost instanta- 
neously. His loss was deeply felt by the general public, as well as by a very 
wide circle of sorrow-stricken friends. 

Joseph Garland 

"Was born August 12, 1811, and was graduated from Bowdoin in 1841, and from 
the Bangor Theological Seminary in 1844. Entering at once upon the work of 
the Christian Ministry, he served the Congregationalist church of Woolwich in 
this state three years, a church in Sandwich, Mass., six years, and a church in 
Bristol, N. H., six years. He also exercised his ministry in Acton, Mass., and 
Charleston, 1^. H. Since then, disease, combined with other severe afflictions, 
has interfered with his labors to a considerable extent. He has, however, served 
many churches as stated supply, and many schools as superintending committee 
or supervisor. He is the youngest and only survivor of six brothers, of whom 
David, who died in Winslow a few months since, at the age of ninety-one, was 
the eldest. Educationally and religiously, the family will be remembered by 
many present as having been conspicuously prominent. 

Charles Henry Emerson, 

A brother of Thomas P. Emerson, was born in 1818. On leaving college in 
1846, he taught a few months, and then commenced a (iourse of legal studies, 
which he completed in Boston, and was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1850. He, 
however, abandoned the practice of the profession in no long time, and took a 
course of theology at Andover. After laboring two years as a missionary in 
Washington County, in this state, he was ordained as pastor of the Congrega- 
tionalist churches in Lee and Springfield, where he exercised his calling with 
zeal and diligence fourteen years. In 1880 he had been eight years pastor in 
Creighton, !N'eb., and for all the writer knows to the contrary, may hold that 
relation still. His mother was a daughter of Thomas Parsons, the original pro- 
prietor of the town. 

Burleigh Pease 

Is an alumnus of Colby, and graduated in 1851. He is best known as a vet- 
eran school teacher. Bangor, his adopted city, early put him in charge of one 
of her public schools, and he continued in her service, with little pause, for 
5 



66 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

many years. Indeed, the vigor and strength of his life have been given to this 
calling. The length of his service is the best evidence that he had made himself 
necessary to the position, or, in other words, that he had achieved substantial 
success. He gave up the work a few years ago, since which, though continuing 
to reside in the city, he has addicted himself somewhat to agricultul'al pursuits. 

William Daniel Knapp, 

Only son of Daniel and Betsey (Neal) Knapp, was born in this town, October 
17, 1830. In addition to the privileges of the district school, he took two terms 
at Parsonsfield Seminary, and one term at a select school in his neighborhood. 
In 1844 his father established a home in Conway, N". H. This brought the son 
within reach of the South Conwaj'' Academy, where he prosecuted his studies, 
and in due time found his way to Dartmouth College, at which he graduated in 
1855. In the meanwhile he taught school in Conway, Jackson, and Tamworth, 
N. H., and in Newbury, Ipswich, Ashby, and Groton, Mass. On leaving col- 
lege, he was Principal of Lebanon Academy, Me., until December, 1856, when 
he commenced reading law with Messrs. Wells & Eastman, at Great Falls, IST. 
H., and was admitted to the bar at Alfred, York County, Maine, September 22, 
1858. In the last-named year he taught one term in the Freewill Baptist Insti- 
tution, at New Hampton, N. H. Like many another son of Parsonsfield, he 
accomplished the diflftcult task of paying his own way through college, and to 
the initial stage of his chosen profession. To the practice of law, varied by sun- 
dry official trusts, he has devoted his life hitherto. Great Falls, N. H., is his 
chosen place of residence. 

He was School Commissioner for Strafford County in 1860 and 1861, and Sec- 
retary of the New Hampshire Board of Education in 1861 and 1862. He was 
also a member of the New Hampshire Legislature in 1870 and 1871, and in addi- 
tion to serving his town as selectman, he has been its Treasurer since 1866, and 
as if all these official trusts were not enough, he was appointed Police Judge at 
Great Falls in 1869, a position he still holds. 

Among his college classmates were ex-Governor Dingley of Lewiston, Judge 
Field of Boston, Judge Allen of New Hampshire, and Judge Clark of the Su- 
preme Court of Wisconsin. 

This record of Judge Knapp is only another illustration of what so many boys 
from the "hill country" have achieved in the way of hard-earned and honora- 
ble distinction. 

Malcolm McIntire, 

Son of Hon. Kufus Mclntire, was born in 1835. Graduating at Bowdoin in 
1857, he was Principal for one year of the Seminary in this town. He then had 
charge of the Academy in Owensboro, Kentucky, until the War of the Rebell- 
ion, as in so many cases, brought the school to a sudden close. After serving 
for some years, first in the provost marshal's office, and afterward as assistant 




i^ 







Hon. William D. Knapp. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 67 

collector of internal revenue for the county, he removed to Hartford of the same 
state, and opened an academy for boys. Remaining here until 1880, he returned 
to Owensboro, and became deputy collector of internal revenue. 

Cyrus Fogg Brackett, 

Grandson of the venerable Elder Wentworth Lord, was born June, 1833, and 
graduated at Bowdoin in 1859. He was Principal of Limerick Academy the tirst 
year after leaving college, and for two succeeding years taught mathematics and 
natural science in the New Hampton Seminary, N. H. He took his medical 
degree from Harvard, in 1863, and was immediately called to a tutorship in Bow- 
doin College, and for ten years held professorships of natural science, chemistry, 
geology, zoology and physics, and during the last year of service lectured to the 
Medical School on "Medical Jurisprudence." Of his eminence in the depart- 
ment to which he has devoted himself, his fellow-townsmen may well be proud. 
To say that he successfully occupied the chair previously filled by Parker Cleve- 
land and Paul Chadbourne, is high eulogy indeed, but in no wise exceeds the 
truth. In 1873 Prof. Brackett was called to the Henry professorship of physics 
in Princeton College, New Jersey, a position which he still holds. 

It is understood that the scientific world is quite largely indebted to his pen, as 
well as to his oral instructions. 

Oliver Libbey 
Was born in Parsonsfield, June, 1835, and graduated at Bowdoin in 1859. 
After leaving college he taught in Bloomington, 111., and Sheboygan, Wis. After 
reading law at the east, he returned west, and settled in his profession at Green 
Bay, Wis., where, it is understood, he still resides. In addition to his law prac- 
tice he has charge of an Insurance Agency. 

William Bicker Thompson 
Took his Bachelor's degree at Colby, in 1863, and his Master's degree in 1866. 
After being two years Principal of the High School in Hallowell, he pursued 
the full course of theological study at Newton, Mass., and upon his graduation 
in 1868 was ordained as a minister of the Gospel, and became pastor of the Bap- 
tist church in Brighton, Mass. After some three years of service, his health 
became so impaired as to unfit him for the labors of the pastorate. He accord- 
ingly spent the next four years in business pursuits, preaching meanwhile on the 
Sabbath, as he was able. His health having become measurably restored, in 
1875 he resumed the pastorate, and has continued to exercise its functions to 
the present time. His places of labor have been Fayville and Townsend, Mass., 
and New Ipswich, N. H., where he now resides. In addition to his pastoral 
labors, he has been repeatedly chosen to responsible municipal offices by his 
adopted town. 



68 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Horace Rundlette Cheney 

Was born in this town October 29, 1844, graduated from Bowdoin in 1863, and 
became Tutor in Bates College, just then chartered as such, and of which his 
father, Dr. O. B. Cheney, was then, and is now, the honored President. He 
remained in this position three years, during which he founded the Library of 
the college, and was its first Librarian. After graduating from the Harvard 
Law School, he entered upon practice in Boston, was Assistant District Attor- 
ney of Suffolk County several years, was tendered the position of Attorney- 
General of Massachusetts, and at the time of his death had a large practice, 
being one of the prominent lawyers of the Suffolk bar. He died of consump- 
tion, December 18, 1876. 

Melville Cox Towle 

"Was born in Parsonsfield, September 14, 1835. He graduated at Harvard Uni- 
versity in 1865, and at the Medical School of the same Institution in 1870. He 
was an exceptionally fine scholar, and as a practitioner in Haverhill, Mass., 
during his short but brilliant career, he was without a superior. Only five years 
was vouchsafed him for the prosecution of his chosen profession. He died of 
pneumonia, December 20, 1875. The sudden ending of such a life was a bitter 
disappointment to his wide circle of friends, and a grave loss to his adopted city, 
and to the profession, of which he gave promise of becoming a distinguished 
ornament. 

John Holmes Band 

Graduated at Bates in 1867, being a member of the first class sent out by that 
college. He immediately became Professor of Mathematics at New Hampton 
Institution,]^. H., where he remained until 1870, when he was elected to the 
chair of Mathematics in his own college, a position he still holds. Reliable tes- 
timony assigns him high rank in his department, and exemplary devotion to its 
duties. 

Isaiah F. Pray, 

One of the only two, it is believed, of the whole list not natives of the town, was 
born in South Berwick, December 11, 1845, but afterward resided in Parsonsfield 
most of the time until 1866, when he matriculated at Bates, but graduated from 
Dartmouth in 1870. After teaching one year, he gave himself to the study of 
medicine, and took his degree from the University of New York in 1874. After 
serving for a limited time as House Surgeon on the staff of a Woman's Hospital, 
lie entered upon private practice in the city of New York, which he is still 
pursuing. But along with this practice, and incidental to it, he responded suc- 
cessively to the call of two public Dispensaries of the city, holding to one the 
relation of House Physician, and to the other that of House Surgeon. It will 
hence be seen that the claims made upon him by his profession must be very 
■exacting as well as absorbing. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 69 

Edavix James Cram, 

The eldest sou of Nathan B. and Elizabeth (Tarbox) Cram, was born October 
17, 1846. After the customary attendance upon district schools, he completed his 
preparation for college at Limerick Academy and Westbrook Seminary, and 
matriculated at Bowdoin in 1869. At his graduation in 1873 he had well earned 
his Bachelor's degree, and his Master's degree followed three years later. He 
commenced teaching common schools at seventeen, a calling which he followed 
at intervals every year up to the close of his college course. In 1874, after being 
at the head of the Winthrop High School two terms, he was elected Principal of 
the Kennebunk High School, and held the position for seven years. He then 
commenced reading law with Strout, Gage & Strout, Portland, and after three 
years' study was admitted to the Cumberland bar, Ajiril, 1884, and in June of 
the same year opened an office in Biddeford. A good measure of success has 
attended him in his chosen profession. In December, 1884, he was appointed 
Recorder of the Biddeford Municipal Court, a position that he still holds (1887). 
His temperance habits are be3^ond question, having never used either liquor or 
tobacco in any form. 

John Arthur Cram, 

Brother and classmate of the above, was born July, 1848. He, too, fitted for 
college at Limerick and Westbrook, and received the honors of Bowdoin in 1873. 
Like his brother, he also commenced teaching at seventeen, and prosecuted it at 
intervals up to the time of his gradviation, when he assumed charge of the "Wells 
Free High School. But after two terms he faltered in health. Although a man 
of strong constitution, and of marked athletic skill and power, yet long and per- 
sistent apjjlication to study and teaching had brought on pulmonary trouble, 
which, with brain fever, ended his earthly life on the nineteenth of July, 1874, 
He was a successful teacher, a young man of the highest integrity and honor, 
and in his death all felt that bright prospects were blasted. 

Andrew J. Eastman, 

Only son of Andrew J. and Sarah J. (Frost) Easman, was bora in Parsonstield, 
July 23, 1846. Both his parents died while he was yet very young, but he had 
the benefit of Christian homes, in the interval between childhood and manhood. 
His, however, was the old story of struggle and vicissitude ere he could set foot 
within college walls. But his wish was at length gratified. He took his prepar- 
atory course at Kew Hampton, N. H., matriculated at Bates College in 1870, and 
received his Bachelor's degree in 1874. He then entered the Theological Depart- 
ment of the same college, and graduated therefrom in 1877, thus completing ten 
years of continuous study. He had previously united with the Paige Street 
Freewill Baptist church in Lowell, Mass. His first pastorate was at Steep Falls, 
Standish, Me., where he was ordained November 1, 1877. In the spring of 



70 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

1878 he accepted the call of the Freewill Baptist church in Grafton, Mass., from 
which he went in December, 1880, to take the charge of a new interest in the 
city of Worcester, ten miles distant. After a time, finding the strain here too 
much for his strength, he felt obliged to resign, and in April, 1882, accepted a 
call to Pittsfield, IST. H., where he remained three years. In April, 1885, he was 
invited to Ashland, N. H., where he is still [1887] pastor. 

Franklin Pierce Moulton 

Finished his college course at Bates in 1874, since which, according to trust- 
worthy information, he has filled the chair of Ancient Languages at New Hamp- 
ton, N". H., with great ability. The training he gives in his department is excep- 
tionally thorough. 

Alvah Pray Moulton, 

Brother and classmate of the above, upon leaving college returned to Parsons - 
field, of which he has always remained a resident. His time has been mainly 
given to agricultural pursuits. These are all the data the writer has been able to 
gather, and all, therefore, he is able to give. 

Alanson B. Merrill, 

An alumnus of Bates, of the class of 1877, died in the year following. He is 
characterized by his instructors as having been a fine scholar, and a " young 
man of great worth." 

Harry L. Staples 

Was born September 21, 1858, and graduated at Bowdoin in 1881. He taught 
the Free High School of his native town one year, and spent the autumn of 1882 
at Princeton, N. J., in the study of Physics, under the instruction of Prof. Cyrus 
F. Brackett. In June, 1883, he entered the Portland School for medical instruc- 
tion, and from that time he has devoted himself to medical studies at Portland 
and Brunswick. He has given quite special attention to the Natural Sciences, 
and has taught them for considerable periods at Mrs. Caswell's school in Port- 
land. If he turns his thoughts and researches largely in that direction, he can 
hardly fail of achieving eminent success. 

Frank Herbert Pease, 

A sou of John A. and Sarah R. Pease, was born in East Boston, Mass., July 
16, 1858. When he was two years of age his father returned to his native town, 
and settled on the old family homestead in South Parsonsfield. Here the son 
enjoyed the advantages of such schools as his hnmediate neighborhood furnished, 
and also, for a time, of the better facilities offered by Parsonsfield Seminary, 
His prepai'ation for college, however, was prosecuted and completed at tlie Nich- 
ols Latin School, Lewiston, where he graduated in 1877. After taking his Fresh- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 7 1 

man studies at Bowdoin, and spending further time in earning money to defray 
expenses, he entered the Sophomore class at Tufts College, Massachusetts, in 
the fall of 1880, and graduated therefrom in 1883. While in college, he won the 
prize for the best translation of English into Latin, and was on the editorial 
staff of the " Tuftonian^^ for two years; besides which, he was for a time col- 
lege correspondent of the Boston Journal and the Boston Globe, and contrib- 
uted short poems to the Portland Transcript and the Boston Transcript. He 
also, by request of the committee, wrote an original hymn for the Parsonsfield 
Centennial celebration. 

Mr. Pease is now (1887) Principal of the Sawyer Grammar School in Dover, 
N. H. The school consists of three hundred pupils and eight teachers. He is 
the youngest, but by no means the least p-romising, of the sons of our goodly 
town, who are fain to own some college as their Alma Mater. 

Of the thirty-live known college-bred men of Parsonsfield, all save one have 
now passed in review before the reader. It is matter of sincere regret to the 
writer that, in the case of several of the foregoing sketches, the materials at 
hand were so meager. He can only say that he has tried to make the most of 
such means as were reasonably attainable. 

It is, perhaps, the crowning glory of the men, a mere glimpse of whose lives 
we have just caught, that they were not sent to college. They went, indeed, but 
went of their own motion, went because of an inward craving that could be sat- 
isfied in no other way. As a class, it was not their fortune, or rather misfor- 
tune, to have rich fathers ready and eager to put them through college, and into 
professional life, without any severe testing or tasking of the best that was in 
them. On the contrary, their fathers, for the most part, wei-e hard toilers upon 
Buch acres as they chanced to possess, and could ill afford to dispense with the 
aid of their sons upon the farm, to say nothing of paying the expenses of their 
education. And so the sons were fain to take the matter into their own hands, 
being only too thankful if they might gain simple consent to leave the paternal 
roof portionless, and fight the battle as best they could. And they did fight, 
some of them against fearful odds. Manual labor morning and evening, self- 
board, resolute and hard toil during vacation, alternation of teaching and study, 
anything that could help them toward the coveted end, was eagerly and heroic- 
ally resorted to. And so, as commonly in such cases, victory came at length. 
They were picked men in the sense of having successfully encountered the 
severest tests to which they could well have been subjected. Let me not be 
misunderstood. They make no boasts; they claim no prescriptive rights, arro- 
gate to themselves no superiority. Honor enough for them is it to be accounted 
sons, on an equal footing with all the other sons, of the dear mother on whose 
honored brow we, todaj"^, place her first centennial crown. The American col- 
lege is no close corporation, no nursery of class distinctions, no aristocratic 
excrescence upon the body politic. Born of an imperative need of society, it is 



72 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

of the people, and for the people, always and pre-eminently. It is founded by 
the people, endowed by the people, and is the heritage of the people, and of the 
children of the people, to the latest generation. 

Upon many minds there seems to be an utter misapprehension as to the ten- 
dency of a really liberal education. The knowledge that " puffeth up " is never 
genuine. It is but a name, a bubble, a pretence. Puncture it, and lo, it turns 
to nothingness. One fruitage of true knowledge, on the contrary, is humility. 
It takes the conceit out of a man as almost nothing else can, — tends to make 
him introspective, modest, unpretentious, — to show him how little he knows as 
compared with what remains to be learned, and so to stimulate him to higher 
attainments and nobler achievements. Now the college, in proportion as it is 
true to its mission, works toward this beneficent end, and hence is a blessing 
beyond all price. Let it, then, have its true place as a mighty agency in the 
world's progress, and, under God, in the world's regeneration. 

[Dr. Eicker has omitted to make any extended mention of himself, but a just 
tribute is paid him by Dr. Wm. B. Lapham, of Augusta, a life-long friend, 
which sketch appears with his portrait, in Part III, to which the reader is 
referred. — J. W. D.] 




^ J^ /3 ^....^yA^^^^— 

Prof. Cyrus Fogg Brackett. 

A.M. /V1.0. L CD. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 73 

THE PROGRESS OF PHYSICS DURING THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS. 

It is apparent, on a moment's reflection, that a mere enumeration of the 
achievements of science in any given department, and for any given period, 
would be of little value. To be of real service to his reader, one must exhibit, 
as points of departure, the several disciplines constituting the subject-matter 
treated of, as they were at the commencement of the period under consideration. 
No hesitation will, therefore, be felt in stating, as occasion shall seem to demand, 
the views which have prevailed in earlier times concerning the matters dis- 
cussed. This will have the double advantage of giving a clear view of the 
results reached at the commencement of our period, and at the same time of 
making the reader familiar with the use of such terms as are necessary to set 
forth subsequent progress. 

Electricity. 

The history of electrical science is mainly occupied with the last three hun- 
dred years. Prior to the beginning of the seventeenth century, only a few 
apparently disconnected electrical phenomena were known, and such explana- 
tions of them as were attempted are better suited to illustrate the fruitless meth- 
ods of the philosophers than to serve any useful purpose for science. More than 
two thousand years, from the time of Thales, had to pass away before the genius 
of Dr. Gilbert could lay the foundations of the vast superstructure of electrical 
knowledge which hosts of subsequent workers have since reared. It was Gil- 
bert who first distinguished between magnetic and electrical jDhenomena, and 
gave a distinctive name to the latter (" Vim illam electricam nobis placet appel- 
lare.'''') To Thales and to the Grecian philosophers after him, till the time of 
Theophrastus, only a single substance appears to have been known which could 
be excited electrically by being rubbed. This substance was amber (electron), 
whence the name electricity. About two hundred and fifty years after Thales, 
Theophrastus discovered another substance having the same property. It was 
called lynkurion, but exactly what the substance was is not now known. 

Aristotle ascribes to Thales a knowledge of the attractive power of the mag- 
net. It is probable, however, that his knowledge, and that of his contempora- 
ries, was very incomplete, for it seems quite unlikely that any comprehensive 
acquaintance with phenomena so striking as those exhibited by the magnet, if it 
existed at the time of Thales, had been so far lost that Pliny, just after the com- 
mencement of the Christian era, could have written accounts concerning them 
so inexact, confused and absurd as those which he has left. Indeed, it was 
hardly possible that any considerable progress could be made in determining the 
relations of magnets to each other, and to the earth, before the invention of the 
compass. Now, however far back" a knowledge of this instrument may date 
among the Chinese, it was not before the twelfth century that it became known 



74 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

in Europe. To Columbus, on his first V03^age of discovery, must be attributed 
the first authentic observation of the deviation of the compass from its usual 
direction, at least among Europeans, for it appears that the Chinese were long 
before familiar with this occurrence. In 1580, Norman, in England, published a 
pamphlet, in which he explains the cause of the dip exhibited by the north end 
of a needle which has been balanced on its pivot before " touched " with the 
magnet. His explanation was that the attractive point is in the earth itself, and 
not in the heavens, as had hitherto been supposed. Others before Norman had 
entertained a kindred idea, if only speculatively. Stories \vere told of moun- 
tains of lodestone at the north pole so powerful in their attractions that ships 
coming near them would either be held fast, by reason of the iron contained in 
them, or would have their iron bolts drawn out, and so would fall to pieces! 

What has been said will suffice to show the condition of this department of 
knowledge before the time of Gilbert. What he did for its promotion may be 
sufficiently stated in a few words. He showed that many bodies beside amber 
can be electrically excited by means of friction. As such, he mentions the dia- 
mond and other precious stones, glass, sulphur, shellac, and resinous bodies gen- 
erally. According to him, wood and the metals do not possess this property. 
Gilbert devised the first electroscope, or means of detecting the presence of elec- 
tricity. He showed that moisture diminishes or annuls the effects produced by 
friction, and, since neither moisture nor friction affect the magnet in the same 
way, he made these circumstances grounds of distinction between electricity and 
magnetism. He mentions, further, that magnets can act only on magnetic sub- 
stances, while electrified bodies attract almost all substances presented to them, 
provided they be not too heavy. He showed that the earth is a great magnet, 
and as such, exercises its directive influence upon the needle. He devised and 
employed, so far as he had occasion, the nomenclature in use today. 

Otto von Guericke, born at Magdeburg, 1G02, made the first rude beginning of 
the electrical machine. He noted that the light bodies which are attracted to an 
electrified surface are repelled after contact, so as to come in contact with some 
other surface. 

In 1670, Boyle showed that electrical attractions can take place in the so-called 
vacuum. Five years later Newton observed that if one surface of a plate of 
glass be excited by rubbing, the phenomena of attraction and repulsion of light 
bodies will be presented by the other surface, the action taking place through 
the glass. In 1708, Wall, rubbing amber with wool, produced a spark nearly an 
inch in length, and accompanied .by a noise. He compared these with lightning 
and thunder. In 1720, Stephen Gray noticed that a cork, which closed one end 
of a glass tube which he was using in some electrical experiments, became elec- 
trified, and this observation led him to the discovery that electricity can be con- 
ducted along threads, wires, etc. He also discovered that silken threads, hair, 
and lumps of resin, do not allow the electrical state of an excited body to be- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 75 

communicated to another body through them. There was thus clearly estab- 
lished the division of bodies into conductors and non-conductors, or insulators, 
although Desaugliers was the first to recognize this formally. 

Gray made use of the latter class of bodies to prevent the escape of electricity 
from other bodies on which he would experiment. Meantime Du Fay, born 
1698, was busy with the same matters. He repeated Gray's experiments, and 
devised others. In the course of his labors he was led to make clear the follow- 
ing propositions: (1) Every electrified body attracts all non-electrified ones, 
communicates electricity to them, and then repels them. (2) There are two 
electricities, opposite in character, the vitreous and the resinous, produced by 
rubbing glass and resin respectively. 

Du Fay investigated the different conducting powers of various substances, 
and laid the foundation for the invention of the electroscope in use in all our 
laboratories. He showed the conducting power of flame, and he first drew an 
electric spai'k from the living body. This last experiment attracted great atten- 
tion, and doubtless had much to do with making his name famous, and his opin- 
ions weighty with his contemporaries. It is true, however, that they did not 
all readily accede to his theory of two distinct fluids. 

A few words here respecting the development of the two types of electrical 
machines in common use will be of interest. As hinted above, Guericke took 
the first step. His apparatus was merely a sphere of sulphur mounted, so that 
it could be turned about a horizontal axis, while friction was applied by holding 
the hand on its surface, Hawksbee replaced the sulphur sphere with glass, and 
added a multiplying wheel, by means of which a more rapid revolution could be 
given it. In 1734, Bose independently hit upon the same arrangement, and 
added what is now called the prime conductor. In his case this was merely a 
cylindrical tube of sheet metal, into one of the open ends of which was stulfed a 
quantity of linen threads, which could rest in contact with the revolving glass, and 
thus convey the electricity to the metal. These threads were a distinct anticipa- 
tion of the "comb " which is now always employed, although the reason for this 
action was not at that time perceived. The machine, so constructed, was so pow- 
erful that by its use long sparks could be produced, and several substances were 
inflamed by means of them. Winkler added the "rubber," which could pro- 
duce friction instead of the hand, and Gordon, in 1742, replaced the glass globe 
by a cylinder of the same material. 

This rapid sketch will be sufficient to show how the cylinder machine, the 
form and arrangement of which is familiar to all readers, was evolved, and be- 
came practically complete from the simple beginning in 1671, 

Electrical machines now became common, and slight changes were frequently 
made in their construction. Thus Wilson substituted the metallic comb for the 
linen thread in the prime conductor, already referred to, thereby greatly increas- 
ing its efficiency. 



76 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Attention was now turned to the rubber, that improvement might be made in 
it, if possible. Oiled silk was tried, with good results, by Canton, in 1751, but 
as he had noticed that a glass tube which had been dipped in mercury was 
strongly electrified on being withdrawn, he was led to try what effect mercury 
would have when applied to the rubber of the machine. He made the applica- 
tion in the form of an amalgam with tin. It was sucessful to a degree which led 
to other combinations, and the result was that another, in 1788, produced the 
peculiar amalgam, which has thus far proved to be the best. The plate 
machines of Ramsden and Winter differ in no important principle from the 
cylinder machines which had preceded them. 

During the years of the growth and development of the frictional machine 
there had been contrived a great many electrical experiments, which were cal- 
culated to excite the wonder of the uninstructed, and the admiration of the 
learned. Such experiments were common at exhibitions where money was paid 
for admission, and in the halls of learning they became the subjects of discussion. 

In the latter part of the year 1745, von Kleist, at Cammin, made a discovery, 
by accident, which led to what we now know as the Leyden jar, or condenser, 
one of the most important pieces of electrical apparatus; and the same discovery 
was made in a similar way, at Leyden, by Musschenbrock, in the early part of 
the following year. Kleist wished to electrify a medicine-glass by means of the 
electrical machine. In order to this he held the glass in his hand, and brought 
a nail, which had been placed in it, to the conductor of the machine, so as to 
receive a spark. On touching the nail with the other hand, as he attempted to 
remove it, he received a shock. He found the effect greatly increased when the 
glass contained mercury or some other liquid. 

Musschenbrock wished to electrify some water, and to have it keep its charge 
as long as possible. He thought the end Avould be attained by putting the water 
in a glass, and causing a wire to dip into it, so as to convey the electricity from 
the machine. When this was done, and the water, as he supposed, was charged, 
Cunajus, who was holding the glass, was about to withdraw the wire, when he 
received a shock. Musschenbrock, on communicating an account of the matter 
to Reaumur, in Paris, declared that he would not take another shock for the 
kingdom of France! Gralath, in 1746, showed the necessity of joining the two 
surfaces of the glass in order to produce the shock. He was also the first to 
construct a battery of several electrified glasses, which he did in the same year. 
He did not understand the action of the battery, but ascribed it to the " electri- 
cal power of water." Musschenbrock wrote to Nollet in Paris, and he it was 
who, not knowing the prior discovery of Kleist, gave the name " Leyden flask" 
to the arrangement. Many experiments were now made in France, and the 
conditions of their success were more clearly brought to light. Monnier pointed 
out that a flask cannot be charged when it stands upon an insulator; that if a 
charged flask be insulated one may touch the wire connected with the inner sur- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 77 

face without receiving a shock; that when the charged fiask is insulated, and the 
inner surface is touched, the outer surface is so electrified as to attract light 
bodies presented to it; and that a charged flask may retain its charge for a con- 
siderable time. He also attempted to measure the velocity of the transmission 
of the discharge along a wire. 

"Watson, in England, made many experiments in the same direction. Recog- 
nizing the fact that the power of the flask depended on the amount of the sur- 
faces, which were covered with conducting substance, he might have taken the 
last stej), which was to cover the surfaces of the glass with tin foil. This, how- 
ever, was done by Dr. Bevis, so far as the outer surface was concerned, but 
Watson saw the advantage of covering the inner surface as well. Thus was the 
Leyden jar evolved, as we have it. As in the work of discovering the princi- 
ples of construction of the Leyden jar, several persons and nationalities were 
concerned, and the same things were found out independently by several per- 
sons at about the same time, so was it with the discovery of one of the most 
striking phenomena connected with it, that of the "residual charge," which 
may be given by it after it has been completely discharged, and a time varying 
from a few minutes to several months has elapsed. 

The time had now come when the necessity for some clear view of the nature 
of electrical actions was felt. Hitherto, only vague hypotheses had been held, 
his own by each prominent worker, as he deemed sufficient to account for what 
he knew of the wonderful facts. In the earliest times, bodies which could be 
electrified were supposed to possess a soul which can be aroused by rubbing, and 
to whose action all the phenomena were referred; later, emanations were sup- 
posed to proceed from electrified bodies. These were either loaded with moist- 
ure, which, coalescing, like the drops of water when near each other, about the 
rubbed body, bring in light matters in the neighborhood (Gilbert), or flying out 
with great velocity so react on the air as to be swept in by it together with what- 
ever may be in the way (Hawksbee). Even the great ISTewton appears to have 
held the most hazy and unsatisfactory notions concerning it. The Leyden jar, 
however, offered the means of making progress, and we have our own country- 
man,. Dr. Franklin, to thank for one of the most important steps. 

It was "Watson's belief that in none of the well known electrical experiments 
is anything new produced. He held that the friction, or other operation, is but 
the occasion of the appearance of what had previously existed in another mode. 
Du Fay had taught that there are two electricities. In opposition to his view, 
Franklin assumed that there is but one electric (matter) fluid of great tenuity, 
and identical with fire and light. The particles of this fluid are self-repellent, 
but attract matter in its grosser forms. The vitreous and resinous electrical con- 
ditions of Du Fay are explained by Franklin by the assumption that in their 
natural state all bodies have a certain definite amount of this fluid, and that 
then they are not electrified, or charged. They may, however, be made to take 



78 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

more than their natural amount, or they may be made to part with some of what 
they possess and thus become positively or negatively electrified. In the case of 
the Leyden jar, if the inner coating be connected with the machine it will acquire 
more than its natural amount of electricity; since non-conductors can hold only 
a certain amount, it follows that an equal amount must be repelled through the 
glass from the outer coating, through the wire or through the hand which touches 
it, to the earth. If now the jar be removed from contact with the machine there 
is not a restoration of equilibrium since the non-conducting glass intervenes. 
But if the outer and the inner coatings be brought into immediate contact equi- 
librium is at once restored by redistribution, or the jar is discharged. Franklin 
showed by means of a condenser whose coatings were removable, that the charge 
is confined to the surfaces of the glass. Also he showed that the outside and 
inside coatings are in opposite electrical states, as his hypothesis requires. 

Franklin's hypothesis led him to devise many experiments, among them the 
charging of several jars simultaneously by the so-called cascade method. He 
was, however, greatly surprised when he found that two negatively electrified 
bodies repel each other, and he could account for the fact only by assuming that 
matter which has no electricity is self-repellent, and so as the electricity is by 
degrees withdrawn from the bodies, the repellent action of the matter becomes 
more and more apparent. To Franklin we owe the very ingenious demonstration 
that in case of a charged body the electricity is confined entirely to the surface. 
He brought a cork, suspended by a silken thread, in contact with the interior of 
a charged silver cup. On removal he found no trace of electricity on the cork. 

Aepinus, in 1759, attempted to subject Franklin's hypothesis to a mathematical 
treatment. He had no means of knowing the law of the force between electrified 
bodies as regards distance, and so he made a general assumption that the force 
diminished when the distance increased. But though this assumption was want- 
ing in the precision which alone could lead to the highest results, his labor was 
not unfruitful. He replaced the glass, which Franklin had employed in the con- 
denser with air, and thus showed that the action was not dependent on glass as 
such, as Franklin had assumed. He also showed that there is no sharp line of 
demarkation between conductors and non-conductors; that all bodies conduct in 
some degree and that all offer some resistance to the passage of electricity 
tlirough them. 

Meantime, Symmer, in England, had revived the almost forgotten hypothesis 
of Du Fay. He was led to do so by observing that when he withdrew his silken 
stockings, of which he wore two pairs, of different colors, at the same time, that 
those of the same color repelled one another while those of unlike colors attracted 
one another. He much relied on an experiment of Franklin's devising, which 
is now well known and often shown. It consists in sending a powerful spark 
from a Leyden jar through a piece of card-board or through several sheets of 
paper held together, when it is found that instead of a smooth perforation the 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 79 

outside sheets are blurred outwards. Symmer and those who held to his view 
of the nature of the discharge, looked upon this as indicating the passage of two 
electricities in opposite directions at the same time. Symmer thought that the 
puzzling observations of Guericke concerning what we now call inductive action 
became clearer in the light of his explanation. Though at first, Symmer's theory 
attracted little attention, it was shown by Wilke that it offered a clear explana- 
tion of the discharge of the Leyden jar and other condensers. There were, how- 
ever, acknowledged difficulties in the Avay of accepting either Franklin's or 
Symmer's views, and these difficulties have not even yet wholly disappeared. 

Guericke and Gray had each observed that if an insulated conductor be placed 
near a charged body, though not in contact with it, the former becomes electri- 
fied. Winkler had endeavored to account for this in accordance with the pre- 
vailing doctrine of the time by the assumption that there is an electrical exhala- 
tion, or atmosphere which goes out from the rubbed body, to which the effect 
maybe referred. John Canton was very active in experimentation and contrib- 
uted much to the overthrow of this doctrine. He showed that th^ kind of elec- 
trification produced in a given case depends on the character of the surfaces in 
contact and not at all on the nature of the underlying bodies, and, moreover, that 
when an insulated conductor is made to approach a charged body, the portion 
nearest the charged body exhibits electricity of the opposite kind. Wilke showed, 
in addition, that if the insulated conductor be now removed from the presence 
of the charged body, all signs of electrification disappear; and Aepinus showed 
that the same is true for non-conductors. He ascribed the effect to the action of 
the electricity of the charged body within a certain space about the latter, which 
he called the "sphere of electrical activity." Whether this action takes place 
through the intervention of the air, of course he did not know. Beccaria, in 
1767, at Turin, investigated the same problem, and the result was that he ascribed 
the peculiar properties of charged insulators to a power of restoration (electrici- 
tas vindex) of the condition which had been disturbed. This explanation, if such 
it can be called, is one which belongs to the methods of philosophy rather than 
to science. He showed that two equally and oppositely charged bodies, separated 
only by a thin plate of insulating substance, can exert no outside influence, but 
that if they be separated from each other, they both manifest a charge. Volta 
noticed that the two charged bodies do not lose their electricity, but that during 
their near approach it ceases to act outward. As he employed, for the experi- 
ment, a plate of resin to separate the two movable conductors he remarked that 
the electrical action continued to act for a long time, and he hence called the 
arrangement a "perpetual electrophorous." The apparatus still remains a most 
important and useful one in our laboratories. Volta found that if the electrified 
plate of his electrophorous be a partial conductor, the electrophorous may, by its 
use, have its initial charge greatly strengthened. 
In 1778, Lichtenberg invented a double electrophorous, so contrived as to pro- 



8o HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

duce both states of electrification at the same time, and to make the electricity 
so produced available, and both he and Yolta observed that by an obvious use of 
the apparatus, the charges would continue to increase so long as the work of 
applying and removing the movable conductors is kept up. 

In 1787, Bennett, in England, made use of varnished metal plates in the con- 
struction of an " electric duplicator," which was simply a means of conveniently 
applying the prmciple of Volta's electrophorous. Cavallo, Bennett's country- 
man, employed metal plates unvarnished, but never brought quite in contact, 
making use of the thin plate of air intervening, when they approached for induc- 
tive action. Nicholson, in 1788, embodied the same idea in a revolving apparatus 
which carried a metal plate constantly, and in succession past two fixed plates. 
There were metallic wire connections so added that the electricity displaced by 
inductive action could be made available in another part of the apparatus. This 
device is able to build up the slightest difference of electrical states between the 
fixed plates, which may chance to exist, so as to produce very considerable effects. 
Essentially the^same principles were embodied in an apparatus in which a fixed 
and revolving glass wheel were employed, the opposed surfaces of which were 
partly covered with tin foil. The foil was made, at suitable points, to touch fine 
metallic brushes so connected as to serve the same general purpose as the con- 
nections in his earlier apparatus. 

No further notable advance was made in apparatus of this sort for a consider- 
able period, the reason doubtless being that the attention of electricians was 
irresistibly drawn to another class of phenomena in whose investigation Volta 
again holds a conspicuous place. However, in 1831, Belli, an Italian, produced 
an apparatus having much in common with that of Nicholson, It is, in fact, a 
self -charging and continuous by acting electrophorous, and it may properly be 
regarded as the forerunner of the " influence machines " which, in one form or 
another, have almost entirely supplanted the friction machines of earlier times. 
Our limits do not permit a description of this apparatus. There is no new ad- 
vance to record till 1865, when, as so frequently happens, remarkable progress 
was simultaneously made by two persons, Toepler and Holtz, independently of 
each other. The principle of induction is employed by both, and there is great 
similarity in the apparatus which they invented, though there are very important 
differences in details and operation. It will be sufficient for our purpose to say 
that while in the apparatus of Toepler the electric potential (disposition to dis- 
charge) of the conductors is brought about by the action of a fixed inductor on 
the metallic surfaces carried past and near to it, the Holtz machine consists 
essentially of two combined electrophori with a common rotating plate which 
represents the movable cover of the Yolta device. A detailed description of 
either of these machines would be out of place. The invention of these means 
of producing electricity gave rise to a great number of researches which have 
resulted in advancing the theory of electrical action. Very large machines have 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 8 1 

been constructed on the plan of Holtz, some of them by the use of glass plates 
of extraordinary size, and some by the combination of many plates so as to con- 
tribute to one common effect. Hitherto, they have proved rather useful for scien- 
tific than for practical purposes. 

In the early days of electrical experimentation it was not possible to detect the 
presence of very small amounts of electricity, for no very delicate apparatus 
existed for that purpose. The invention of the condenser, however, rendered 
the construction of such an apparatus possible, and Volta had the acuteness to 
take advantage of the fact. Nollet appears to have been the first to attempt to 
estimate the strength of the charges with which he dealt. For this purpose he 
made use of the fact which Du Fay had observed, that two threads hanging near 
each other and connected with the charged body are repelled so as to stand apart 
from each other, and that they diverge more and more as the charge is increased. 
"Waitz attached small metallic balls to the threads which gave a means of com- 
paring the repulsive force with that of gravity, and so measuring the charge. 
The next important device was to place the charged body, or a metallic plate 
which was in contact with it, under the pan of a balance so that the attractive 
force might be counter-balanced by weights placed in the other pan. This was 
done by Gralath and others. Le Koy and d'Arcy contrived an apparatus which 
could stand partly immersed in water, after the manner of an hydrometer, and 
when put in communication with the charged body, it could exhibit the repulsive 
action by displacement upwards. The amount of weight which must be added 
to restore the former equilibrium measured the charge. Canton employed the 
number of sparks which one may obtain in the discharge of a Leyden jar, and 
also the repulsion which two suspended pith or cork balls can show. The first 
plan had but little success till it was carried out by Lane, in 1767, in an apparatus 
which still bears his name. To the outer coating of a Leyden jar is fastened a 
conductor carrying a sci-ew, on whose extremity is a knob. This latter can be 
brought to any required distance from the knob connected with the inner coating, 
and thus the length of the spark can be regulated. 

Henley, in 1772, replaced one of the suspended balls of the former repulsion 
aparatus with a metal strip from which the other ball was suspended by a light 
rod. Cavallo, in 1780, employed thin wires instead of threads to suspend the 
balls and placed them in a glass case with strips of tin foil opposite the balls, to 
increase the divergence by induction. Volta, in the course of the next year, used 
light straws instead of threads, and, finally, Bennett, in 1787, substituted gold 
leaf. 

It is clear that none of the apparatus here briefly mentioned, can serve for 
measurements such as exact science demands, and so it was clearly impossible 
that theoretical results of much value could be obtained by its use. It is, how- 
ever, true that some of the conclusions reached by Aepinus and by Cavendish are 
in close agreement with the facts as they have since come to be established. 
6 ' 



82 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Aepinus, as remarked before, did not know the law of the diminution in electri- 
cal action which depends ou distance. Cavendish, however found evidence that 
it is as some negative power of the distance lying between 1 and 3. He assum- 
ed it to be the second. Mayer, in 1769, showed that this law holds for magnetic 
poles. Priestly, in 1766, concluded that the law of inverse squares is valid, 
from Franklin's observation that the charge is wholly confined to the surface 
of the charged l)ody. But Coulomb first showed beyond all doubt, both experi- 
mentally and theoretically, that this law is rigorously true. The course of his 
investigations led him to the construction of his so-called " torsion balance," an 
apparatus of the greatest value in the estimation of very small forces. The plan 
is to employ the force of torsion of a very thin wire or fibre, say of unspun silk, 
to antagonize the repulsive action of the charged bodies so as to bring them into 
the same relative position which they would have before being charged. By a 
long series of most exact experiments Coulomb established the two facts (a) that 
the force exerted between two charged bodies is directly as the quantities of their 
electricities, and (b) inversely as the square of their distance from each other. 
So far as theory is concerned he showed that the hypothesis of Franklin, or that 
of Symmer, will equally well account for the facts. Coulomb to some extent also 
discussed the distribution of electricity on the surfaces of bodies, and made many 
exact measurements on this subject. He also explained the peculiar action of 
points in effecting the discharge of charged bodies, as a necessary result of the 
distribution. In short he laid the foundation for the theory of static electricity 
which no subsequent researches have disturbed. 

All the accumulated observations and discoveries up to this time were neces- 
sarj- to prepare the way for the rigorous treatment of the mathematicians. It 
was found that much of the mathematical work of Laplace, which had reference 
primarily to another field of inquiry, was applicable. Biot, in 1801, made a be- 
ginning when he solved the problem of distribution on the surface of a special 
geometrical surface, Ijut Poisson, in 1811, commenced the real work of establish- 
ing a mathematical theory of electricitj^. He assumed as a basis that there are 
two incompressible fluids whose particles are freely movable, and that they obey 
the laws which Coulomb had established by experiment. He was able to calcu- 
late what would be the distribution of a charge given to two spheres in contact 
and the calculations agreed with the measurements executed by Coulomb. 

In 1828, Green, in England, devised a new treatment of certain difficult elec- 
trical problems which introduced ver}^ great simplicity into the calculations. His 
work, however, attracted no attention till long afterwards, and it happened that 
Gauss, in 1837, rediscovered his general plan which has been since developed by 
many mathematicians. Through their labors we hav6 come to attach a physical 
signification to what was at first a mere mathematical form of expression. A 
single illustration will suffice. The potential of one electrical mass upon another 
at any given distance is equal to the work which must be done to bring the masses 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 83 

from niutually infinite distances to their given positions, in opposition to their 
repulsions. 

As lias been said above, the vai-ious forms of electroscopes are unsuited to the 
exact measurements required in science. The only real measuring instrument 
thus far mentioned is the torsion balance of Coulomb, 1785. The successful use 
of this instrument, however, requires the highest skill and care on the part of the 
experimenter, and so in the course of time attempts were made to replace it with 
some more convenient device. Among the many proposed may be mentioned 
that devised and used by Sir Snow Harris in 1834, in- which he directly weighs 
the pull exerted on a charged plate held near a similar plate, parallel with it. 
Here was made a commencement, which, at last, in 1855, by the genius of Thom- 
son, was developed into an " absolute electrometer " with scarcely anything to be 
desired in addition. Thomson has also invented other forms of electrometers by 
means of which inconceivably small amounts of electricity can be compared and 
measured. Indeed it is hardly too much to say that more is due to him than to 
any other man, both for his experimental devices and for his contributions to the 
theoiy of electricity. We must pass without special mention a great number and 
variety of instruments which serve the same general purpose as those of Thomson. 
Some of the earlier experimenters, as we have seen, suggested the identity of 
the electric spark and the lightning flash. Franklin, whose attention was arrested 
by the peculiar action of metallic points in discharging the Leyden jar, or other 
charged body, conceived the idea, in 1749, of protecting buildings from the de- 
structive effects of lightning, by means of metallic conductors terminating in 
points. His plan at once attracted attention and rods were erected near Paris by 
Dalibard and Delor who succeeded in showing the identity of the spark with 
lightning. Meantime Franklin had been awaiting the erection of a church spire 
in Philadelphia, on which he hoped to raise his conductor. Impatient at the 
delay in completing the erection, he, together with his son, sent up a kite, armed 
with points and held by a hempen cord, and had the satisfaction of drawing a 
spark from a key which was tied to the cord. Everywhere the greatest interest 
was aroused and Franklin's bold experiment was repeated, notwithstanding its 
danger and the consequent warnings respecting it. At last Professor Reichmann 
was killed by a powerful flash from his apparatus, at St. Petersburg. Lightning 
rods were now speedily erected in various parts of the world, but most numer- 
ously in Philadelphia. As Franklin recommended they were generally pointed, 
but about 1766, Wilson in England contended that they should not be pointed, 
but should end in a rounded knob, and be led through the interior of the build- 
ing to some point below the highest part. Thus if the building were struck the 
rod would be able to convey away the charge without setting the building on fire. 
Beccaria supported the view of Franklin, contending that the points could attract 
no more electricity than they could safely carry away. Finally, the sensible view 
of Franklin, that the office of the rod is to discharge the cloud before the poten- 



84 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

tial rises high enough to discharge disruptively, prevailed. The erection of ex- 
perimental rods gave the means of studying the electrical conditions of the 
atmosphere. The most obvious accessories were some forms of electroscopes. 
Lichtenberg, however, devised a means of making the atmospheric changes self 
registering. It consisted in arranging a plate, such as was in use for the elec- 
trophorous, to be constantly moved by clock-work, while a small metallic ball, 
in conducting communication with the rod rested on it. When the plate was 
strown with light powder it would adhere at the points where the contact of the 
ball had occurred. 

In 1785, Saussure established regular observations by means of which he showed 
that there is a regular period in the variation of the electrical condition of the 
atmosphere in fair weather. Schubler showed that there is a regular yearly 
period as well. With the exceedingly delicate instniments devised by Thomson 
and with the help of photography continuous registrations of the electrical con- 
dition of the atmosphere are now kept in many places, and the results are sub- 
jected to comparative study and discussion. 

It must not be supposed that we have thus far mentioned all the means which 
may be employed to produce static electricity, many of which were in some 
measure known at the close of the last century. The so-called cramp fish had 
been known for many centuries, and the similarity of its effects to those of the 
Leyden jar suggested that the source of its power was electrical. Walsh, in 1772, 
showed that the suspicion was correct, and he succeeded in producing a spark 
from the electrical eel. Gray, in 1731, observed that many fused bodies become 
charged on solidifying. Aepinus showed that many bodies are charged by gently 
laying them on oiled silk and removing them. In 1781, Lavoisier and Laplace 
found that vapor of water evaporated from iron is charged. This led Saussure 
and Volta to suppose that atmospheric electricity is produced by evaporation from 
the earth. In 1840, a workman near Newcastle, noticed that when he made con- 
tact with a steam boiler and with the steam escaping from its safety valve, a spark 
was produced. This led Armstrong to construct a very powerful machine on 
this plan. Faraday, in 1843, showed that the effect is due to the friction of the 
minute particles of water carried along with the steam. 

Aepinus and Wilke, in 1756, investigated the electrical phenomena exhibited 
l)y a crj^stal of tourmalin when it is heated. There are other crystals which show 
similar effects but no consistent explanation of all the facts has been reached. 

As a matter of convenience, we have, thus far, treated onlj- of the progress of 
discovery in electrical science and of the apparatus necessarily incident thereto. 
But it seldom happens that jirogress in science continues for any considerable 
time uninfluenced by the application of its results in the arts. And, conversely, 
such applications almost invariably react to stimulate scientific inquiry, for in 
such applications new conditions are constantly coming into view. 
In very early times, even before any notion whatever of the laws governing 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 85 

electrical phenomena had been gained, the negro women of Africa had been ac- 
customed to bathe their sick children in water containing the gymnotus. Scribonius 
Largus, in the time of Tiberius, was accustomed to humbug his patients with 
the same prescription. ButKratzenstein, in 1744, appears to have been the Rv^t 
to apply electricity in surgery, artificially excited, for the cure of a disabled finger. 
Wonderful accounts were given of the new treatment and it soon became a sover- 
eign remedy for all sorts of diseases and afflictions, and the most reckless and 
intemperate use was made of it. The electric bath, the silent discharge from 
points, shocks from the Ley den jar, etc., were employed with success varying 
with the severity of the case and with the faith of the patient in the remedy 
and in its prescriber. 

As already remarked, Franklin showed that the mechanical effects of lightning, 
such as the disruption of non-conductors, could ])e produced on a small scale by 
electricity artificially produced. He also investigated the effects when the dis- 
charge is effected through good conductors, as the metals. When these were in 
the form of fine wires he was able to heat them to incandescence and even to- 
fuse and dissipate them. Priestly, in 1766, endeavored to employ this method of 
procedure to determine the relative conducting power of the metals, for plainly, 
those which were easiest heated, other things being equal, must possess the lowest 
conducting power. Harris, in 1830, and Kiess, in 1837, endeavoi*ed in a similar 
way to determine the relation which exists between the heating and the specific 
resistance of the metals. The heating effect produced in a wire by the discharge 
of the Leyden jar, was applied, first in this country in 1831, to explode charges 
of powder in blasting. In 1855, frictional electricity was employed in military 
operations by Ebner. 

Although the electric light as a means of general illumination, is of compara- 
tively recent date, and is produced by means quite different from any j-et men- 
tioned, electric lighting was proposed as early as 1750,. by one Grummert, a Pole. 
The brush-like discharge which is frequently seen on one conductor of the elec- 
trical machine when it is in good operation, and the small star-like glow which is 
at the same time seen on the other, were early noticed and studied. Watson, 
in 1753, explained the so-called fire of St. Elmo as being a similar discharge 
where the accumulation occurs by the action of natural causes. In 1766, Priestly 
examined the electric spark through a prism, and concluded that its light was of 
the same general character as that of the sun. Wollaston, however, found, in 
1802, that the spectrum of the electric spark is traversed by a series of bright 
and dark lines, which we now know are due to the incandescent particles of the 
conductors and to the heated air through which the spark passes. By the aid of a 
rapidly revolving mirror, Wheatstone, in 1834, ascertained that the duration of the 
spark does not exceed the one one million one hundred and fifty-two thousandth 
part of a second. And by a similar use of the mirror he found that the velocity 
of electricity in a copper wire is about 288^000 miles per second. It must not be 



86 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

supposed, however, that this is the velocity of electricity under all conditions. 

Such an extraordinary speed, it was early seen fits this agent for the rapid 
transmission of signals over long distances. The first proposal of this kind was 
by a wi'iter now known only by his initials, C. M. His plan is to have as many 
wires as there are letters, so arranged at the sending station, that the extrem- 
ities of the wires can be brought, each at pleasure, in contact with a charged 
body, say the prime conductor of an electrical machine. At the receiving station 
each wire terminates in a small ball placed just above a light movable letter, 
corresponding with one at the sending station. When a message is to be 
sent and received, it is only necessary for the sender to bring the wires, bear- 
ing the proper letters to spell his message, in contact with the charged con- 
ductor, while the receiver has simply to note what letters are attracted to the 
balls and the order of succession. An apparatus on this plan but employing 
small pith balls whose repulsion should indicate the letters intended, was 
constructed in 1774, by Lesage. The next step was to reduce the number of 
wires to a single one and employ the different degrees of divergence which might 
be produced by properly regulated amounts of charge admitted to the wire, to 
indicate the different letters intended. This was proposed in 1787, by Lomond, 
but of course it was not satisfactory. In 1798, the king of Spain had in opera- 
tion a fairly successful telegraph, and various endeavors were made by different 
persons elsewhere to solve the problem of electrical transmission of intelligence 
before the use of electro-magnetism for that purpose. 

It should be borne in mind that the science of chemistry, as we know it, had 
almost no existence in the time of these early electrical experiments, and it there- 
fore happened that little note was made of the chemical changes which often 
attended them. The peculiar odor which attends the action of the electrical 
machine, and which we now know is due to the formation of ozone, was of course 
noticed but was not ascribed to its true cause. Priestly attributed some of the 
discolorations of metals under the action of the spark, to the action of "phlo- 
giston." This, translated into the language of modern chemistry, would be equiv- 
alent to oxidation. Cavendish, in 1781, explained the diminution which a given 
amount of air experiences, under the continued discharge of powerful sparks, to 
the formation of nitric acid. In 1789, water was decomposed, and its constituent 
gases were again combined to reform water. This experiment was decisive of 
the old contest concerning the phlogiston theorj^, which long held its place in 
chemistry. 

The year 1789 was one of the most memorable in the history of physical 
science. It was then that the attention of Galvani was attracted by the convul- 
sions excited in the legs of a prepared frog lying near an electrical machine in 
operation. He at once commenced a careful study of the conditions under which 
the convulsions took place, and was led to inquire if they could be produced by 
atmospheric electricity. He was watching to see if any effect was produced 
while some frog preparations were hanging by iron hooks attached to an iron 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 87 

railing and he noticed that when a metallic connection was made between the 
crural nerve and the muscles of the leg, the convulsions occurred, and he finally 
concluded that he had found a new source of electricity, — the so-called '' animal 
electricity." The greatest interest was aroused and Volta, with untiring zeal 
entered on the work of investigation. At first, he was inclined to the view of 
Galvani, but he was soon led to believe that the electrical disturbance noticed had 
its origin in the contact of the metals employed, — or more generally, in the contact 
of heterogeneous substances. The peculiar taste which is excited, when two 
different metals are placed in contact with the tongue and with each other, was 
known to Volta; and he employed this as a means of classifying the metals, or 
arranging them in a series according to their relative power of producing elec- 
tricity by contact. Afterwards he employed the condenser electroscope and 
established the series more accurately, which is now known as " Volta's series." 
He also showed that no closed circuit composed of metals only can, on the whole, 
cause an electric disturbance, but that it is necessary that there should be at least 
one moist conductor, or a conductor of the " second class" included in the series. 
Kobison, in 1792, endeavored to exaggerate the effect of a single pair of metals 
by piling up several pieces of silver and zinc in alternate order, and as it would 
seem with some success. But it was Volta who at the close of the year 1799, 
made the first effective arrangement. This he described in a letter to Sir Joseph 
Banks, then President of the Royal Society in London, in 1800. The letter con- 
tained a description of the now well known "voltaic pile " and of the " crown of 
cups." The latter we now know as the voltaic battery. 

A bitter controversy arose between the partisans of Galvani and those of Volta. 
Even the great Humboldt took the side of Galvani and advocated in written 
works, the view which Galvani proposed. It is clear, however, that this view 
had to be abandoned after the invention of the voltaic battery. Volta, in 
1801, communicated his views and showed his experiments to the National In- 
stitute of France; and a commission was appointed to report on them. Sir 
Humphrey Davy showed that a current of electricity can be produced by the ac- 
tion of two liquids and one metal. Nobili did the same thing for three liquids 
without the use of any metal. Combinations of two metals and two liquids soon 
followed, which finally resulted in the so-called constant batteries of Dar^iell, 
Grove and others. 

The phenomena presented by a single voltaic element or cell are by no means 
striking to the superficial observer. Simple and inexpensive as this apparatus is, 
however, it has proved by far a more important invention than any which had 
preceded it. We will, therefore, notice a few of the important results which im- 
mediately followed after it became known. A few facts had been noticed, before 
the invention of Volta, which could only be referred to chemical action. Thus, 
Fabbroni observed that tin and mercury when in contact with other metals be- 
come rapidly oxidized which otherwise is not the case. Humboldt noted, in 



88 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

1795, the appearance of bubbles of hydrogen on a silver plate which formed one 
of the metals of a combination used to excite electricity, and he ascribed this to 
the decomposition of water, though this was with him a mere hypothesis. Car- 
lisle and Mcholsou, immediately on the arrival of Yolta's letter in London, 
effected the decomposition of water in a way which left no doubt concerning it; 
and Robertson proposed to employ the gases liberated as a measure of the cur- 
rent. Cruikshank extended this study to solutions of the metallic salts and thus 
laid the foundation of the galvanoplastic method of covering conducting bodies 
with metals, as in gold and silver plating. These researches were taken up by 
Sir Humphrey Davy, and by the use of powerful batteries, they resulted in the de- 
composition of the alkalies and the alkaline earths. In 1852, Bunsen produced 
aluminium, the metallic basis of common clay. 

iSTot only were these triumphs achieved in chemistry, by the use of the battery, 
but the more obvious laws as respects the behavior of the electric current were 
deduced, and thus was laid the foundations of the electro-chemical theory of 
chemical combinations which was elaborated by Berzelius. Not to dwell on the 
details of this now supplanted theory, it may be remarked that it served a very 
useful purpose in chemistry in bringing facts into order and in stimulating re- 
rearch. 

In 1834, Faraday established an exact nomenclature by means of which he 
could clearly describe whatever results research might enable him to reach, and 
then there followed a long series of beautiful discoveries in the course of which 
Faraday may almost be said to have created the modern science of electricity. 
He showed that the absolute amount of an elementary substance set free from its 
combination depends only on the amount of electricity which passes through the 
electrolytic compound. He also showed that the amounts of the different chemi- 
cal elements which can be set free from their combinations by the same amount 
of electricity are alwa3'S in the proportions of their combining weights, respect- 
ively. This being so, it was easy to employ some of the metallic solutions as 
means of measuring the strength of the electrical current. It is only necessar}'- 
to pass the current through a metallic solution, for a given time, and to ascertain 
by weighing, the gain in weight of the negative electrode (the metal by which 
the current leaves the solution). Knowing the chemical equivalent of the metal 
thus deposited, in a unit of time, in any given case, the strength of the current 
is known in terms of some definite quantity of the same metal assumed as a 
standard. The standard quantity may be arbitrary or, better, it may be related 
to some other easil}^ observed phenomena, such as the heat evolved, or the deflec- 
tion of a magnetic needle. 

Our space will not permit even the mention of the labors of others with respect 
to this important matter, and it must be left with the remark that the researches 
of Faraday must be looked upon as marking an epoch in the history of electrical 
science, equally important for theory and for the practical results which have 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 89 

followed. An observation of Schoenbein, in 1840, must here be mentioned. 
The peculiar odor which is perceived in the neighborhood of a stroke of lightning 
had early been noticed in the vicinity of an electrical machine in good operation. 
Schoenbein discovered the same thing in connection with the galvanic battery 
and careful inquiry resulted in referring it to the formation of a peculiar combi- 
nation of oxj'gen with itself so that a molecule consists of three atoms instead 
of two as is ordinarily the case. 

In 1802, Gautherot observed that two plates of the same metal, for example 
platinum or gold, which have formed part of a voltaic circuit by dipping in 
acidulated water, give rise, when placed on the tongue, to the peculiar taste which 
is perceived when two dissimilar metals are so placed. Ritter put together a num- 
ber of such plates, with moistened conducting materials between them, after the 
fashion of Volta's pile. "When the extreme plates were connected with the con- 
ducting wires of an active voltaic battery, for some minutes, and then the wires 
were disjoined from the battery, it was found that the pile so treated could be 
used as a battery. Ritter regarded this arrangement as analogous with a con- 
denser. Volta, on the other hand, referred the effects produced to chemical 
changes which had been effected by the battery current. Marianini, in 1815, 
reinvestigated the matter and found that the pile was active even after replacing 
the moist conductors with others, and after drying the plates. He referred the 
results to the altered electrical properties of the metals. Subsequently, Grove, 
using two strips of platinum, one of which was surrounded by hydrogen gas and 
the other bj^ oxygen made his well-known gas battery. The action, in general, 
to which these results are due , is called polarization and is at the basis of all the 
modern so-called secondary, or storage, batteries. The whole matter has been 
most carefully investigated by Plante, and has been utilized by him and by others 
in the construction of batteries for the so-called storing of electricity for com- 
mercial purposes. It will be seen, however, that what is really done is to effect 
certain chemical changes in the secondary battery whereby products are set free 
which can subsequently reunite and so produce an amount of current represent- 
ing the original current which set them free. 

The various forms of batteries, both primary and secondary, which have from 
time to time appeared must be passed over without special mention, since in 
many of them there is nothing which marks progress. It will be important, how- 
ever, to remark that the polarization just spoken of, and which takes place to 
some extent in all simple primary batteries is injurious in character, in that it 
sets up a counter electromotive force which diminishes the current which other- 
wise would be produced, thereby rendering the batteries inconstant in their action. 
This difficulty has been obviated in various ways, notably by Daniell, Grove and 
Bunsen. The plan by which they all accomplish this object is to employ two 
liquids and two metals in the construction of the battery. The two liquids are 
not allowed to freely mingle, but are separated by a membrane or a porous porce- 



90 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Iain cell. The liquids are of such character that they do not permit any chemical 
product to be formed which can set W]) the counter electromotive force above 
spoken of. Dauiell employed solutions of sulphate of copper and sulphate of 
zinc, and the metals copper and zinc. The battery thus formed is remarkably 
constant and long continued in its action. 

The long and bitter contests which have been carried on concerning the source 
of the electromotive force of the galvanic cell, must be passed over with the sim- 
ple remark that, now since the establishment of the principle of the " conserva- 
tion of energy," it must be agreed by all parties that the current is maintained 
by the chemical actions which go on in the battery, whatever part the contacts of 
the different elements entering into the composition of the battery may play. 

We now come to a most interesting epoch, namely, that in which the relations 
between electricity and magnetism were discovered. The principal discovery 
was made in 1820, by Oersted, in Copenhagen. Oersted found that when a wire 
joining the poles of an active galvanic battery is brought into the neighborhood 
of freely suspended magnet and parallel with it, the magnet is deflected so as to 
point transversely to the wire. If the magnet be placed above the wire in which 
a current is flowing towards the north the north end of the magnet is turned 
towards the east, if it be placed below the wire the north end turns towards the 
west. Thus the current and the magnetic field which always accompanies it are 
definitely related. From this it follows that the magnet may be employed to de- 
termine the presence of a current flowing in any conductor and the direction may 
be at the same time determined. Moreover the amount of the deflection, other 
things being equal, depends on the strength of the current. This fact is the basis 
of several forms of galvanoscopes and galvanometers to be spoken of later. This 
discovery of Oersted at once attracted great attention, and many investigators un- 
dertook systematic researches with respect to it. Seebeck regarded the current as 
in itself a magnet, but Ampere, with much greater skill, commenced a series of 
investigations which were crowned with brilliant success. Seebeck noticed that 
a small floating magnet is attracted by the presence of an active conductor, and 
Arago found that iron filings will adhere to such a conductor, and that a sewing 
needle is not only attracted by the conductor but becomes permanently magnetic. 
In order to increase this effect he placed the needle in a small glass tube around 
which he wound the conducting wire in a spiral. It became magnetic as he had 
anticipated, and he showed that the direction of its polarity depends on the direc- 
tion of the current in the spiral. This was the foundation of the electromagnet. 
The electromagnet in the form of a horse shoe was first made in 1825 by Stur- 
geon, an English electrician. It consisted of a bent iron core which was cov- 
ered with an insulating coating of varnish, upon which was wound spirally 
several turns of copper wire, the separate turns of the spiral being carefully sep- 
arated from one another. This magnet could lift a weight of nine pounds, a 
most marvelous result at that time. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 9I 

Between the years 1828 and 1831 Professor Henry made many important inves- 
tigations, and reached results which were greatly in advance of any which had 
hitherto been obtained. He wound the horse-shoe shaped iron core with many 
turns of insulated wire and found, as he had expected, that the magnet's power 
was greatly enhanced. This was Henry's first important discovery. He said of 
it, — "When this conception came into my brain, I was so pleased with it that I 
could not help rising to my feet and giving it my hearty approbation." He con- 
structed many different electromagnets, some of which were wound with long, 
thin, insulated wires, continuously applied, while some were wound with several 
shorter wires which were parallel with each other and all united at their several 
ends so that the current could traverse them side by side and thus diminish the 
resistance which they offered to its passage. This latter arrangement he found 
specially adapted to be used with a battery consisting of few plates of large size, 
while the former could be used advantageously with a battery of many plates 
joined in series. A battery thus joined can overcome the resistance offered by a 
long wire such as must be employed in any system of telegraphy; and Henry at 
once perceived that by the use of his magnet wound with many turns of wire 
continuously applied, it would be possible to produce signals at any required 
distance. He also showed that this magnet thus acting at a distance might be 
made to close the circuit in which was placed one of his magnets adapted to 
act with a battery of few plates of large size, and thus to produce mechanical 
effects at any remote place. This is the method which was adopted by Morse in 
the practical telegraph system which is known by his name. One of the larger 
magnets constructed by Professor Henry, and now in the collection at Princeton 
College is capable of supporting 3500 pounds. Much larger and more powerful 
ones have since been constructed and employed in various researches and for 
practical purposes. The more exact statements of the relations which exist be- 
tween the strength of the current, the number of turns of wire and the amount 
of iron, etc., and the strength of the magnet, were made by Lenz and Jacobi, in 
1839. So far as relates to the electromotive force of the battery, the resistance 
of the circuit and the strength of the resulting current, G. S. Ohm, in 1827, had 
reached conclusions b}' mathematical discussion which were identical with those 
which Henry had found by experiment. 

Here must be mentioned another most important discovery v/hich Ampere 
made in the latter part of the year 1820. He was led, by the similarity of the 
action of a wire conveying a current to a magnet, to try the effect of one wire 
upon another when both are active as conductors. He sent currents through 
two neighboring wires, of which one was free to move, and found that 
when the currents move in the same direction the two wires attract one 
another, but when they move in opposite directions they repel one another. He 
devised various forms of apparatus by means of which he could examine the 
effects of currents on one another mutually at whatever angles he might choose. 



92 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

He was led to a theory of magnetism which regards the molecules of a magnet as 
having minute currents of electricity circulating around them ; but which regards 
these currents as circulating in all possible directions in the unmagnetized state. 
The act of magnetization would then consist in bringing more or less of these cur- 
rents into positions parallel with each other. The magnet will be saturated when all 
the currents are parallel. It is, then, easy to see why one magnet, when used to 
magnetize another loses none of its magnetism. Rotations of magnets around 
conductors of electricity, and of right conductors around magnets were foreseen as 
consequences of Ampere's theory and experiment fully justified these deductions. 
In the hands of Davy, Faraday and others these experiments have led to a very 
extensive doctrine of electro-dynamics, the details of which must be omitted. 
The whole matter has been treated rigorously by the mathematicians, among 
whom may be mentioned Ampere, Grassmann, Neumann, Weber, Maxwell, 
Thomson and others. 

Seebeck held a peculiar view of the electromagnetic phenomena of Ampere, 
and in order to test it he formed a circuit composed wholly of two different 
metals, which of course, must be joined at two points. On heating one of the 
junctions he found that a current was produced. The same result, with the cur- 
rent in the reverse sense, followed the cooling of the joint. Thus was laid the 
foundation of the thermo-pile, by means of which heat may be applied to main- 
tain a constant current of electricity. The new apparatus was investigated by 
Henkel, the Becquerels, Mathiessen, Faraday, Gore and others. In short, it was 
found that all the effects which can be produced by the voltaic battery, can be 
secured by the thermo-pile. In its improved form, it consists of many bars of 
dissimilar metals, say antimony and bismuth, with their ends joined alternately 
and laid parallel with each other. When delicately made, the apparatus sets up 
a current with the slightest difference of temperature between its two faces. 
Oersted first employed it in investigating the radient heat. In 1839, Nobili fur- 
ther improved the apparatus and made it of the greatest use in measuring degrees 
of heat incredibly small, making use in connection with it of a very delicate gal- 
vanoscope devised by Schweigger. Besides its use in the physical laboratory this 
apparatus in modified forms has constantly rendered important service in the arts, 
and in physiological inquiries. Seebeck observed that the indications of the ap- 
paratus are not constant and proportionate to the degrees of heat to which it 
may be subjected. That is, as the temperature of one face of the pile rises the 
deviation of the needle may become proportionately less and less till at last a 
point is reached at which the indications will be reversed. Thomson and Tait 
have carefully studied this aspect of the matter, and tolerably satisfactory results 
have been reached, but they are too complicated for presentation here. It was 
early observed that the conducting wire which joins the poles of a galvanic bat- 
tery becomes heated on the passage of the current. In 1802 Davy showed that 
the rise in the temperature of the wire kept pace with the increase of chemical 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 93 

decomposition in an electrolytic cell, placed in the circuit. In 1817 Oersted 
showed that the rise in the temperature of the conductor is proportional to the 
resistance which it offers to the passage of the current, but Joule, in 1841, deter- 
mined exactly the laws connecting the heat with the current and with the con- 
ductor, viz: the heat produced is directly proportional to the resistance and to 
the square of the strength of the current. Thus it becomes possible to measure 
the current strength by measuring the resistence of the conductor and the heat 
developed in it. Or, conversely, we can determine the heat which will be produced 
if we know the current and the resistance. These relations have become of the 
first importance in the modern applications of electricity in electric lighting and 
in the electrical transfer of energy from one place to another by means of the 
dynamo-machine . 

Peltier, in 1839, made a discovery which is the converse of that of Seebeck 
already described. If a current be sent through a circuit composed of dissimilar 
metals, the joint between them will be cooled if the current move in the one 
direction and heated if sent in the other direction. This result might have been 
anticipated when it is remembered that heating such a joint sets up a current. 

When the conducting wires of a powerful battery are separated a spark appears. 
Curtet, in Brussels, was the first to employ a piece of charcoal as one of the ter- 
minals of the conducting wires. The result was the production of the brilliant 
electric light now so well known. In 1812, Davy produced this light on a most 
magnificent scale, by the use of the great battery at his disposal in the Koyal 
Institution. He noted that the charcoal which formed the positive terminal was 
hollowed out like a crater while the other remained but little altered. He, there- 
fore, rightly concluded that the phenomena is not due to combustion properly so 
called. On presenting the pole of a magnet he found that the electric arc could 
be deflected by it, just as if it had been a movable wire. The electric light, how- 
ever, did not come into general use because there was not known any economical 
way of producing the necessary currents of electricity. 

The deflection of the magnetic needle by the action of the current suggested 
to several inquirers its use as a means of measuring the strength of the current 
as has already been hinted. A great variety of instruments have been contrived 
dependent on this general principle, and the laws of their action have been de- 
termined with the greatest accuracy, both by mathematical calculations and by 
experiment. It is now the common practice with electrical engineers to measure 
electrical quantities by means of these instruments with as much certainty as 
characterizes any other measurements which they have to execute. And not 
only so, but complete systems of units have been devised which are very simply 
related to the common well known fundamental units of time (second), length 
(centimetre), and mass (gramme); and electricity is now bought and sold for 
lighting and manufacturing purposes with the same confidence as coins are ex- 
changed for ordinary commodities. 



94 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Before leaving the matter of measurements, a word should be said respecting 
the remarkable investigations of Ohm already alluded to. These investigations 
resulted in the announcement of the law which is now known as Ohm's law. 
This law points out the relations which exist in every case between the electro- 
motive force, or cause which sets the current in motion, the resistance of the 
circuit and the resulting current strength. The law asserts that the current is 
determined by the ratio of the electromotive force to the resistance. 

The original observation leading to Galvani's- research which opened up the 
field of current electricity has been described, but the immediate cause of the 
convulsions observed has not been considered. It was noticed soon after the 
invention of the Leyden jar, that when it is discharged through a long conduc- 
tor, the discharge is accompanied by a so-called " return stroke," — that is, the 
electric equilibrium of conducting bodies in the neighborhood is disturbed and 
this is manifested under favorable conditions by the passage of sparks between 
them. As soon as the identity of the electricity produced by the battery with 
that produced by the electrical machine was established, it might have been 
expected that some similar disturbances would occur in the neighborhood of the 
conducting battery wires. Ampere was apparently the first to detect an action 
of this kind although he did not investigate it with his usual zeal. He hung a 
closed movable conductor in the presence of a wire conveying a current, and 
found that the closed conductor was attracted or repelled by a magnet, which he 
presented, on breaking or closing the circuit of the battery. In 1824, Arago 
found that if a magnet be suspended freely over a revolving copper disc, the 
magnet, is deflected from its proper position so as to follow the rotation; and he 
further observed that if the disc be at rest, and the needle be set in vibration, it 
sooner comes to rest than it would if the disc were removed. He at first referred 
this action to induce magnetism. But in 1826, he placed a revolving disc under 
a magnet which hung vertically from one arm of a balance and found that 
repulsion ensued, which he could not account for. Herschel and Babbage, in 
1825, found that if the revolving disc be partially traversed by radial slits the 
effect already noticed is much diminished. But it was reserved for Faraday, in 
1831, to give the true explanation of the phenomenon. Eeflecting on the mutual 
reaction of two conductors which are conveying currents, he was led to conjec- 
ture that by the motion of one conductor conveying a current, in the neighbor- 
hood of a closed conductor, a current might be excited in the latter. He there- 
fore commenced a systematic inquiry to ascertain if this were possible. He 
placed two coils of insulated wire near each other, the terminals of one of which 
were connected with the galvanometer while those of the other were connected 
with the battery. No movement of the galvanometer needle could be observed 
so long as the current was passing steadily, but on opening the battery circuit, 
he noticed a slight deflection of the needle, and on closing it there was a similar 
deflection, but in the opposite direction. This was positive proof of the produc- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 95 

tion of a current in the closed circuit, including the galvanometer, which had no 
direct connection with the battery, and he concluded that this secondary current, 
as he called it, depended on the changes in the inj;ensity of the primary, or 
battery current, which must occur during the closing and the breaking of the 
circuit. 

He next endeavored to produce a current in the wire connected with the 
galvanometer by suddenly magnetizing and demagnetizing a piece of iron. For 
this purpose, he employed an iron ring over a portion of which the battery wire 
was coiled, and over another portion of which the galvanometer wire was coiled, 
its two extremities being united with the galvanometer. When connection with 
the battery was made, there was a movement of the needle in one direction, and 
when the connection was broken there was a movement in the other direction. 
Thus, the magnetizing and the demagnetizing of the iron was found competent 
to produce the momentary currents in the secondary coil. When he joined the 
galvanometer coil to the instrument with no other coil near it, or with the 
battery removed, and merely made a permanent magnet approach the coil, there 
was a current of momentary duration, and another in the opposite direction when 
the magnet was withdrawn. These most important discoveries gave Faraday the 
explanation of the mutual actions of the magnet and the copper disc already 
spoken of. They were due to the attractions and repulsions of the Amperian 
currents which are in constant circulation about the molecules of the magnet and 
the induced currents in the metal of the disc in its vicinity, which are produced 
by the relative motion of the two. In pursuance of this view, he mounted a 
circular copper disc so that it could revolve with its edge between the poles of a 
powerful electromagnet. On the edge of the revolving disc he made a spring to 
rest which was in connection with one wire of the galvanometer, while the other 
galvanometer wire was in contact with the metallic axis of the disc. Now when 
the electromagnet was excited and the disc was put in motion, a current was 
produced ! 

Thus, the first magneto-electric machine had its origin. The reason which 
justifies giving this matter so much space it obvious when it is remembered to 
what this simple device has grown, and what a place it fills in the production of 
the electric light, the transfer of power from one place to another, its use in 
telegraphy, etc. Faraday's genius did not stop here. He rightly concluded that 
since the earth is a great magnet, it would be easy to produce an electi-ic current, 
by merely causing a coil of wire to revolve about one of its diameters. Experi- 
ment justified his previsions. Faraday called the currents thus excited in closed 
conductors, by the change of intensity in neighboring currents, or by the relative 
motion of the conductors conveying these currents, or by the motion of magnets, 
" induction currents," or " induced currents," and as just seen, he determined, 
experimentally, the conditions of their production as respects direction and 
intensity. 



96 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

The whole matter was very beautifully stated, however, by Lenz, in 1834, in a 
form which is now known as Lenz's law. " The motion of a magnet or of a con- 
ductor conveying a current, in the neighborhood of a closed conductor induces, 
in the latter, a current which of itself, would produce an opposite movement."' 
This law is of universal application where magnets or electrical currents are 
made to move in the presence of conducting bodies. 

In 183'2, Henry observed that when a short wire is used to join the mercury 
terminals of a small battery, no spark is produced either on making or breaking 
the connection, but if a wire thirty or forty feet in length be used, though no 
spark is visible on making the connection, there is a brilliant one when it is 
broken. He found the effect somewhat increased when the wire was coiled on 
itself. This is the first notice of the phenomenon of self induction in an electric 
discharge. In 1834, Jenkins observed that this spark, due to induction, is gi'eatly 
increased if a core of iron be inserted in the spiral coil. Faraday referred these 
phenomena to the mutual influence of the separate turns of the wire constituting 
the spiral, and he showed that on making the current to pass through the spiral 
there is set up, in consequence of this mutual influence, an electromotive force 
opposite that of the battery, which prevents the current of the batter}^ rising at 
once to its full value, and also, that on breaking the circuit the effect is to 
strengthen the battery current momentarily, by inducing an electromotive force 
in the same direction with that of the battery. In 1849, Edlund, in Stockholm, 
showed that these " extra" currents are equal in intensity, and proportional to 
the strength of the primary. 

The mathematical theories of Neumann, Fechner, Weber, Kirchhoff, Helm- 
holtz, Clausius, Maxwell, and others must here be omitted. 

It was regretted by Franklin, that the results of electrical research had not, in 
his time, been turned to more practical use in the service of man. The discov- 
eries of Faraday, that in various ways electrical currents can be maintained by 
the expenditure of mechanical energy made it possible to remove this reproach 
more completely than the invention of the battery had done. Faraday, himself, 
pointed out this fact, but pushing on with all zeal in the path of discovery, he 
left the practical applications to others. 

In 1832, Pixi constructed a magneto-electric engine consisting of a IT shaped 
electro-magnet in front of the poles of which a U shaped permanent magnet could 
revolve about a vertical axis. The two free ends of the coils of the electro- 
magnet were connected with a pole changer, which could reverse the direction of 
the current through the electro-magnet twice for every revolution of the perma- 
nent magnet. Ritchie constructed a machine in which the electro-magnets were 
made to revolve while the heavier permanent ones remained fixed. Other im- 
provements followed along the same general line. Machines for converting a 
current into mechanical energy were constructed, having great numbers of 
magnets, and some of these could be operated by mechanical power, so as to 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 97 

produce powerful currents, which could be employed for electriclighting, electro- 
plating, etc. 

The next important step was taken by Siemens, in Berlin, in 1857. Several 
steel magnets were placed parallel with each other, and a portion of their polar 
regions was cut away so as to form a nearly cylindrical opening in which an 
armature of special construction could revolve. This armature was a cylinder of 
iron having longitudinal grooves cut along opposite sides. These were filled by 
winding with insulated copper wire, the extremities of which Avere to a pole-chang- 
ing device, so as to turn the currents produced by revolution, in the same direc- 
tion, and so give a nearly continuous flow. 

In 1860, Pacinotti, in Florence, constructed an apparatus designed to convert 
the energy of a battery into mechanical power. It consisted of two electro- 
magnets near the poles of which an iron ring on which, at equal distances, were 
wound several coils of insulated copper wire continuously. Upon loops of the 
wire, carried to an insulating hub, on the revolving axis were placed two 
springs, one opposite the other. When this apparatus was joined up in circuit 
with a battery so that the current could traverse the electro-magnets, the coils of 
the iron ring and the springs, the ring was set in rotation by the attractive and 
repulsive action of the magnetic poles developed. It was subsequently found 
that the battery could be removed, and that then a current could be set up by 
simply making the iron ring to revolve by mechanical energy. As thus used, the 
arrangement embodies the principle of the dynamo-machine subsequently 
pointed out by Siemens. 

In 1866, Wilde, in England, combined in one construction a magneto-machine 
with steel magnets and an electro-magneto-machine. The office of the former 
was to furnish a current of electricity to magnetize the electro-magnets of the 
latter to a high degree. This resulted in producing a very powerful current. In 
1867, Siemens showed that the same result as Wild had reached could be pro- 
duced, by making the current, generated by the revolution of the armature in the 
presence of a very feeble electro-magnet, to traverse the coils of the electro- 
magnet, and thereby develope a more intense magnetism. Thus, a current could 
be built up from the smallest beginnings to any required strength, by the expen- 
diture of sufficient mechanical energy. This, in fact, is what the Pacinotti 
machine, just spoken of, could do when properly regulated. The principle is 
called the "dynamo" principle, and is employed in the construction of most of 
the powerful machines now used for electric lighting, such as the Siemens, the 
the Brush, the Edison, the Weston, the Thompson and Houston and others. 
These machines, gener.ally, are capable of transforming mechanical energy into 
electrical energy with very little loss, so that we have at command the means of 
producing the electrical current for practical purposes with the greatest economy. 
Not only are we able, by means of these machines, to transform mechanical 
energy into electrical energy, but we can also reconvert the energy of the electri- 
7 



98 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

cal current into mechanical work. It is only necessary to connect two dynamo- 
machines by means of metallic or other good conductors, and apjily power to one 
of them to produce the current which will then traverse the coils of the other, 
and set it in motion by means of the magnetic actions consequent thereon. Bat- 
tery currents as we have seen, were used by Pacinotti, for the purpose of con- 
verting the electric current into work. The commencement, on this plan of pro- 
curing power, was made early. In the year 1830, Salvastro del Negro, and at 
about the same time. Prof. Henry, constructed reciprocating engines to be 
actuated by the energy of the battery which was made to energize an electro- 
magnet, first in one direction and then in the other alternately, by means of an 
automatic pole-changer, which could reverse the current with every stroke of 
the engine. 

Several persons m different countries, made many trials and experiments with 
the hope. that some cheap motive power might be secured by the use of electrici- 
ty, but it was early seen, and by none fclearer than by Professor Henry, that all 
such hopes were delusive until some means of producing the current at less cost 
than can be done by the battery, should be discovered. 

It remains to speak of a very important apparatus for transforming the electri- 
cal current of one potential into that of another. This apparatus is called the 
induction coil, or the " inductorium." Pohl, in 1835, was the first to take 
advantage of Faraday's discoveries in order to produce, by means of the inductive 
action of a current suddenly established and broken, in one coil, a momentary 
current, in another coil, of much higher potential. Various devices were em- 
ployed to effect this closing and breaking of the circuit. In 1839, Wagner de- 
vised a self-acting hammer by means of which the current was alternately inter- 
rupted and renewed. The whole apparatus then consisted of a thick, insulated 
wire coil, surrounded by a coil of many turns of thin insulated wire, the interior 
coil having within it a bundle of iron wires, and having its extremities joined to 
the circuit breaking hammer. When this apparatus is included in a battery 
circuit, the current begins to flow in the interior coil, but is immediately inter- 
rupted by the action of the hammer, and the iron wires at the same time lose 
their magnetism, thereby inducing a momentary current of high potential in the 
secondary coil. This operation is repeated with the successive blows of the 
hammer, and so a series of interrupted currents is produced which can be util- 
ized in any way desired. By the use of a condenser the terminals of which are 
joined to the extremities of the thick wire coil the effect is much increased. The 
condenser was added by Fizeau. Ritchie, in Boston, Rhumkorff and others, have 
made important improvements in the methods of winding the second, or fine wire, 
coil. The inductorium finds many applications in the physical laboratory, and 
the smaller ones are somewhat used in medicine. A modified form of the 
apparatus has lately been introduced into some systems of electric lighting. 

Mention has been made of the early attempts to use the electricity produced by 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 99 

the friction machine for the purposes of telegraphy ; not long after the invention 
of the pile by Volta, it was proposed by Salva, at a meeting of the " Academy of 
Sciences," at Barcelona, to employ "Galvanism" for the same purpose. In his 
experiments, which he cites, he employed long wires stretched on insulators, and 
as means of making the signals he used frogs' legs. He even used a combination 
of frogs' legs for his battery, for he had not yet heard of the invention of the 
metallic pile by Volta. He, however, read another paper before the same body, 
in 1804, in which he makes reference to the pile of Volta as being better suited 
to his purpose. By the use of six wires and of decomposing cells containing 
water for his receiver, he shows how it may be possible to so make combinations 
of signals as to enable one to carry on telegraphic correspondence between two 
stations. 

Between the years 1809 and 1812, Sommerring devised and successfully exe- 
cuted an apparatus similar in principle to that of Salva. The system, however, 
was too complicated for practical use, inasmuch as there were as many wires as 
there are signals to be made. Schweigger, in 1811, reduced the number of wires 
to two and employed two batteries differing in strength, so as to be able to com- 
bine a succession of effects to produce any required signals. Other plans 
involving the same general principles must be passed over without mention. 

The first suggestion of a telegraph in which the current should be made to 
cause the deflection of a magnetic needle was made by Laplace, the mathema- 
tician, to Ampere who read a paper before the Academy of Sciences, in October 
1820, setting forth a plan for carrying this idea into practice. There were to be 
as many pairs of conducting wires reaching from one station to the other, as 
there are characters to be used in correspondence, and at the receiving station, 
the wires were to be placed parallel to the magnetic meridian, with a freely 
suspended magnetic needle near each of them, so as to avail of the deflection ob- 
served by Oersted for manifesting the signal intended in any given case. On the 
16th of Sept. preceding, Schweigger had read a paper at Halle, in which he de- 
scribed his " multiplier," — a simple device for increasing the amount of deflec- 
tion caused by a current acting on a magnet. It consisted in carrying the wire 
several times around in a coil so that the needle could be placed in the coil and 
freely suspended. In 1829, Fechner, of Leipsic, proposed to employ this device 
in the construction of the receiving instrument for the telegraph. In 1830, 
Kitchie, of the Koyal Institution, London, carried this plan into effect, and 
showed in a paper the great probability that it could be employed for long dis- 
tances notwithstanding the general scepticism among men of science concerning 
this point. Somewhere about 1825, Baron Schilling, of Canstadt, exhibited to 
the emperor Alexander, his incomplete inventions. His plan employed the 
deflections of a needle by the action of a current which could be reversed at 
pleasure. The needle carried a disc of paper, white on one side and black on 
the other. When the current was sent in the one direction one side of the disc 



lOO HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

presented, and when it was sent in the other direction tlie other side of the disc 
presented. By combinations of these elementary signals an alphabet could be 
made to serve all purposes. There was nothing new in the use of such combina- 
tions, for they were emjiloyed by the Greeks and Romans for military purposes, 
by means of flags. Some of Schilling's apparatus was on exhibition by the 
Russian Government, at the Paris Exhibition of 1881. 

In 1833, Gauss and Weber, at Goettingeu, constructed a practical telegraph 
which depended for its action on the deflection of a magnet by a current which 
passes near it. They employed two wires which were supported on posts and 
extended about a mile and a quarter. At first, the current was produced hy a 
battery, but finally it was produced by a magneto-engine. This consisted of an 
upright permanent magnet which was encircled by a coil of insulated wire, hav- 
ing in the final form, 7,000 turns. This coil could be lifted by depressing a lever 
on which it was mounted, when a momentary current was induced in it. On 
allowing the lever to resume its natural position the coil would rise, thereby 
inducing a current in the opposite direction. The ends of the coil Avere con- 
nected with the line wires which led to the receiving station, there traversing a 
second coil having about 3,000 turns of insulated wire. In this coil was freely 
suspended a bar magnet weighing about 100 lbs. To the axis of revolution was 
fixed a small mirror in which the reflected image of a divided scale could be seen 
by means of a telescope. The alternate currents just spoken of caused devia- 
tions of the magnet to the right or left according to their direction, and suitable 
combinations of these deflections constituted the alphabet with which correspon- 
dence could be carried on. This telegraph was in 2)ractical operation down to 
1838. In 1836, Steinheil, of Munich, at the request of Gauss, greatly improved 
this form of telegraph. In 1S3S, he accidentally found that the earth could be 
used as a return conductor, thus making it possible to dispense with one wire 
between the sending and the receiving stations. This plan had, however, been 
unconsciously acted on by those who had attempted to employ static electricity 
in telegraphy. 

The current used by Steinheil, was produced by the rotation of wire coils near 
the poles of fixed steel magnets, as in Clark's magneto-electric machine. The 
indicator consisted of a wire coil in which could freely turn two magnets. These 
could be made to move at will by means of the induced currents just spoken of. 
Each magnet carried a small cup the bottom of which was drawn out into a small 
point with a very minute opening. These cups were filled with ink, and beneath 
them passed a strip of paper carried continuously by means of clock work. As the 
points could be brought into printing contact with the paper it is clear that the 
operator could produce any required signals. Instead of the printing device just 
explained, he also used two small bells which could be struck by the magnets as 
they were deflected. The pitch of the two bells being different, it was easy to 
interpret the message sent in signals produced by the successions of their tones. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. Id 

In 1837, Edward Davy exhibited in Loudon, a telegraphic apparatus which had 
much to recommend it. The development of his ideas commenced with the use 
of static electricity. He subsequently recommended the use of Danniell's bat- 
tery. At first he proposed to have a wire and a coil for each of the elementary 
signals employed, but he afterward showed how the number of the wires might 
be greatly reduced by the use of double deflections. He also added a "relay" 
by means of which he could employ the deflections of the needle in one circuit to 
close another circuit including a fresh battery, and so extend the action of his 
telegraph as far as might be required. As has been well said, "the air was full 
of invention at that time," and Davy had vigorous competitors in Wheatstone 
and Cooke, Morse and others, and failed to reap the rewards of his labors. 

In 1832, Professor Morse conceived the idea of an electro-magnetic telegraph 
which eventuated in the apparatus which is generally known as the Morse tele- 
graph. As remarked on a former page, the principle of this device had been 
developed by Professor Henry, and to him must belong the credit of the inven- 
tion, so far as scientific principles are concerned. In 1843, the first telegraph 
line in this country was constructed between Baltimore and Washington, an 
appropriation having been made by Congress for that purpose. The instruments 
used were those of Morse, and the whole constituted a telegraph in the strict 
sense of the word, since the messages were written by a registering device. We 
need not describe it in detail since its general form and operation is familiar to 
all. The registering apparatus is, however, at the present time very generally 
discarded, since it is entirely practicable to recognize the several elementai-y 
signals by the ear alone. 

To set forth the subsequent growth and development of the telegraph would 
require a volume. It will not be amiss, however, to call attention to the fact that 
whereas in the early days of the telegraph it was thought necessary to have as 
many wires as there are letters in the alphabet in order to send a single message, 
it is now possible to send as many messages over a single wire simultaneously as 
there are letters, and without confusion. The details of the several devices by 
means of which these results may be accomplished are too complicated for pre- 
sentation here. 

Hardly less remarkable is the fact that one may now have his message de- 
livered printed in roman character just as it comes over the wires. 

The submarine cables which now encircle the earth in various directions and 
bring us news from the uttermost parts of the world, even before the date of its 
happening, have ceased to be matters of surpi-ise. Their effects, however, have 
proved to be more than commercial and political in their character. It is to the 
difliculties which beset their construction and operation that we owe some of the 
most brilliant achievements of science. 

In 1837, while Morse was experimenting with his telegraphic apparatus, a dis- 
covery was made in Baltimore, by Page, which was destined at a later period to 



I02 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

open the way to greater marvels than the telegraph can ever exhibit. Page 
found that when a rod of iron is suddenly magnetized and demagnetized, b}?- 
passing a current of electricity through a coil of insulated wire containing it, it 
emits a sound. It was afterwards found by "Wertheim that this is due to the 
sudden deformation of the iron rod. 

These facts being known to Philipp Eeis, a young school master at Friedrichs- 
dorf near Homburg, he thought to utilize them in the construction of a telephone 
by means of which articulate speech itself might be transmitted over a conduct- 
ing wire. The receiver at which the ear was to be placed consisted of a small 
steel rod placed in the interior of a coil of insulated wire, the extremities of the 
rod being supported by a " sounding board" covering a small box of resonant 
wood. The transmitting apparatus, or that against which the voice of the 
speaker is to be directed, consists of a membrane stretched tightly so as to 
vibrate when acted on by the particles of air set in motion by the sound, and of 
certain accessories. These are a piece of platinum attatched to the middle of the 
membrane so as to be carried by it, and, in connection with the line wire, another 
piece of platinum resting lightly on first by means of a spring or by gravity, also 
connected to the line. When the circuit between the speaker and the listener is 
joined including this apparatus, the receiving apparatus just described and a 
battery, and the voice, in singing or speaking, is directed against the membrane of 
the transmitting apparatus, the contact between the pieces of platinum is made 
to- vary with the motion of the membrane, and so the strength of the battery 
current is made to vary from a maximum to zero, depending on the gentleness 
or violence of the sound. These variations of the current produce corresponding 
variations in the magnetism of the steel rod in the receiving apparatus, and the 
sounds emitted correspond to those spoken at the transmitting station. 

Keis describes the operation in terms which have been held to mean that he 
intended to absolutely make and break the circuit at every fundamental vibration 
of the air, or of the membrane, and the inference has been drawn that he could 
not have had an instrument which would transmit speech since it cannot be 
transmitted in that way. To all such criticism it is sufficient to reply that there 
is abundant proof that he did transmit speech during his life time; that there are 
still living those who were with him when speech was transmitted, and lastly 
that his apparatus will do all that was claimed for it by him. 

In the Annual Report of the Physical Society of Frankfort for 1860-61, we find 
a clear exposition of the problem to be accomplished, and a statement of the 
degree of success which it had at that time attained. It was not pretended that the 
instrument which he had invented and produced was fitted for commercial pur- 
poses, or that it would not need to be greatly improved before it could be of 
much practical value, yet it was claimed that the inventor had opened a new 
field of research and invention. Others entered the field and improvements 
followed both in Europe and in this country. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. IO3 

In 1876, Professor A. G. Bell exhibited at the Centennial in Philadelphia, an 
apparatus which was capable of transmitting with more or less distinctness 
spoken words and sentences. Many improvements soon followed in which a 
great number of inventors took part, and the consequence is that the telephone 
has become as common as the telegraph. The plan of procedure which Prof. 
Bell adopted in his application for a patent differs essentially from that adopted 
by Keis. Instead of producing variations in a current supplied by a battery as 
the effective agency by which sounds are to be reproduced, he employed the 
energy of the sound waves to produce the current which should actuate the 
receiver. In short, his apparatus is merely two small magneto-engines joined up 
in the same circuit so that the action of the one shall compel corresponding 
actions in the other. We must pass without special mention the labors of Gray, 
McDonough, and others who have taken a conspicuous part in the development 
of telephony, but who have had the misfortune to be overborne by the successful 
monopoly secured by the American Bell Telephone Co. It will be of interest to 
remark that the plan of Keis has come to be the one which is now made the 
basis of commercial telephony. If one of the platinum pieces in his transmitter 
be replaced with a bit of carbon no other change need be made in his apparatus 
to constitute it a completely successful apparatus. The accomplishment of this 
is due to Edison. 

The discovery of the electric are has already been mentioned as having been 
made by Curtet, and as having been studied by Davy. The production of the 
electric light for illuminating purposes was not general, however, on account of 
the exi^ense attending it, until the dynamo-machine was in some good degree 
perfected. This as has been shown was due to the labors of several persons. 
Within the last decade the use of the electric light has become general in our 
principal cities. It is to be noticed that the inventions of electricians whereby 
this has been rendered possible, have, in order that they might be carried out in 
practice, compelled great improvements in the construction of the steam engine. 

The principal facts concerning electrolysis have been mentioned on an earlier 
page; and the laws of Faraday concerning them have been stated. It remains to 
mention briefly the application which these laws have found in the arts. In 1804, 
Brugnatelli succeeded in gilding silver coins by means of the galvanic current. 
De la Rive, in 1840, covered brass and copper in the same way. In 1841, Kuolz 
presented to the Academy of Sciences, in Paris, a communication in which he 
set forth a method of practical application of electrolysis for covering conducting 
surfaces with metals. Large establishments at once sprung up, the most notable 
of which was that of Elkington Brothers, in Birmingham. The art found appli- 
cation in copying medals and other works of art, in the electrotyping of letter- 
press for the press, in copying photographs, etc. It is now applied with great 
success in chemical analysis, in the purification of chemical products, and in 
many branches of manufacture which our limits do not permit us to mention. 



104 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

HEAT. 

The earliest inquiries concerning the phenomena of heat were, as in other 
departments, mostly speculative in their character. It was one of the " elenien- 
tarj' opposites " of Anaximancler. According to him all things were formed by 
combinations of the hot and the cold, the dry and the moist. Others regarded 
heat as a form of creative power, if not the creative power itself. The sun being 
its most striking manifestation naturally came to be regarded as a proper object 
of worship. Democritus regarded heat as as efflux of exceedingly minute round 
particles, which could move with great velocity so as to penetrate all substances. 
From the finest of these particles the soul was constituted. Aristotle taught that 
heat is a condition of matter rather than matter itself. Bacon conceived it to 
consist in the motion of the minute particles of which all bodies are composed. 
Locke held similar views. Stahl, born 1660, developed an idea of Becher, that 
"phlogiston" is the principle of heat. This notion was intimately connected 
with the chemistry, or rather the alchemy, of the times in which they lived. The 
metals were combinations of certain calces (rusts) with phlogiston; and as this 
latter had the inherent property of levity, it was easy to explain the fact, that 
when a certain amount of calx was heated with charcoal, which was supposed to 
be mostly composed of phlogiston, it weighed less than the calx did before heat- 
ing. The phlogiston entered into combination with the calx to constitute the 
metal, and so made the whole lighter. When, however, oxygen gas was dis- 
covered by Steele, in 1774, it became possible to show the fallacy of this assump- 
tion and the uni-eality of phlogiston. Then the " caloric " theory came forward, 
being powerfully advocated by Lavoisier and Black. It assumed that heat is a 
real substance capable of entering into combination with other substances, and 
of passing from one body to another. This hypothesis could be overthrown only 
by showing that heat can be produced without recourse to any source of pre-exist- 
ing heat. This was done bj- Count Eumford, 1796-98. He found that the heat 
developed during the boring of cannon which he was engaged in constructing, 
was greater than could be accounted for by the changes in the form and density 
of the materials concern-ed. Sir Humphry Davy shortly after confirmed this con- 
clusion by causing ice to melt by means of friction, in a vacuum and in a room the 
temperature of which was below the freezing point. Finally Joule, 1843-50, fully 
proved that heat and mechanical energy are mutually convertible and ascer- 
tained, with great accuracy, the " mechanical equivalent " of a unit of heat. 
The general result may be stated thus: A pound of water is heated one degree 
Y. by the expenditure of an amount of mechanical energy which would raise 
772 lbs. one foot. 

The conclusion of Joule has been confirmed, with very slight corrections, by 
others and by experiments widelj- differing in their character and mode of 
attack. 

There are two distinct lines of inquiry to be reviewed which will exhibit the 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. IO5 

pi'Ogress which has been made during the century just past. One of these has to 
do with the laws of distribution and the effects of heat in altering the properties 
of bodies, and the other is concerned with heat considered as source of energy 
for accomplishing work in the mechanical sense. 

The progress of knowledge in this, as in every other, branch of physical 
science has been inseparably connected with the invention of the necessary ins- 
truments of observation. As respects heat, the most important as well as the 
earliest of these is the thermometer. The instrument is based on the almost 
universal effect of heat in increasing the bulk of bodies to which it is applied. 

The inventor of the thermometer appears to have been Galileo, about 1592, 
though there are not wanting some evidences that attempts were made by others, 
about the same time, to measure the temperature of bodies. The thermometer 
of Galileo was simply a glass tube on the end of which was blown a bulb, the open 
end of the tube being dipped below the surface of water in a vessel. When the 
bulb was heated gently a portion of the air was driven out by expansion, and on 
cooling, the water rose in the tube and by its height showed the temperature to 
which the bulb had been exposed. The defect of this instrument, besides the 
inconvenience of its application, was that it was affected by changes in the pres- 
sure of the atmosphere. About fifty years later Guericke improved this form of 
apparatus by employing a large copper bulb with a siphon shaped tube attached 
in a vertical position, and partly filled with alcohol. A small float rested on the 
upper surface of the alcohol and had a string attached to its upper surface so 
that it, passing over a pulley, could cause a small figure to traverse up and down 
over a scale, as the temperature varied. He assumed the temperature at which 
the first hoar-frost appeared as the mean temperature of his scale. By means of 
his air-pump he withdrew through a small tube which pould be closed, so much 
air as was required to make the position of the figure coincide with the assumed 
point on the scale. The instrument, of course was subject to the same disadvan- 
tages as that of Galileo. The Florentine Academicians were the first to employ a 
real thermometer in which the effects of atmospheric pressure were excluded. 
It was probably invented by Friedrich II, Grand Duke of Toscany. The tube 
contained alcohol, and was pumped out so as to enclose a vacuum and then it 
was hermetically sealed. The instrument was in existence in 1641, even before 
the founding of the Academy. 

In 1703, Amontons presented a memoir to the Paris Academy in which he 
showed that the temperature indicated by an open-air thermometer, was propor- 
tional to the elasticity of the enclosed air; and he pointed out that by reference 
to the barometer, the varying effects of atmospheric pressure could be elimi- 
nated. He knew the fact that water boils at a constant temperature, and for the 
first time he made use of this fact for fixing one of the points of his thermome- 
ter scale. He discovered and stated two important laws: " A given quantity of 
air increases in elasticity proportionally with the increase of heat which it re- 



I06 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

ceives. A given quantity of air, at a constant temperature, increases in elastici- 
ty proportionally with the increase of pressure which it experiences." 

The first form of thermometer which made Fahrenheit famous, was filled with 
alcohol. Instruments of his construction were common in Europe as early as 
1709. About 1714-15, he employed mercury for filling the instrument. In 1724, 
he published his method of procedure in finding the points of reference for his 
scales. He took the temperature produced by a mixture of ice, water and salt, 
for zero. The temperature of a mixture of ice and water he marked 32; that of 
the human mouth he marked 96. The thermometers of Reaumer and Celsius, 
differ in no respect from that of Fahrenheit, save in the value of the degrees of 
t leir scales. Mention has been made of the thermo-pile under the head of elec- 
tricity. 

The thermometer as constructed of glass and filled with mercury or any other 
known liquid, is far from being a strictly accurate instrument, if it be used on 
the assumption that throughout the whole extent of its scale, equal degrees cor- 
raspond to equal amounts of heat. Accordingly, laborious researches have been 
undertaken to ascertain the laws which regulate the expansion of mercury and 
other liquids, as well as those which apply to the expansion of solids. The most 
notable of these labors as well as the most accurate, are those of Reguault, un- 
dertaken in order to determine the data necessary for calculating the duty, effi- 
ciency, etc., of the steam engine. His results were submitted in 1847. They are 
of the utmost importance to science, but are too complicated to be presented 
here. 

The expansion of gases had been studied by several philosophers. Amontons, 
1699; Hawksbee, 1708; Lambert, 1779; and especially by Gay Lussac, when 
Regnault undertook the investigation with the rigor and completeness which 
characterizes all his work. He was the first to show that the latent heat of 
steam diminishes as the sensible heat increases, though not in the same ratio. 
In general, he confirmed the law of Boyle, that the volume of a gas is in the 
inverse ratio of the pressure to which it is subjected, the temperature remaining 
constant. 

The term temperature stands for an idea wholly differing from that involved in 
the expression quantity of heat. It is clear that a small amount of water, for 
instance, may be heated to a given temperature with a less expenditure of fuel 
than would be required to heat a larger amount to the same temperature, yet the 
thermometer would give the same indication when placed in the one as when 
placed in the other. The branch of science which relates to the measurement of 
quantities of heat is called calorimetry. It had its origin with Deluc. In the 
winter of 1754-55, he allowed the water surrounding a thermometer in a glass to 
freeze. On cai-rying the glass to the fire he noticed that the thermometer indi- 
cated a rise in temperature only till the ice began to melt. From that time on, 
the mercury remained at the zero point until the ice had entirely melted. Black 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. IO7 

about the same time studied the same phenomenon, and he found that when he 
mixed ice at 32 degrees F. with water at 172, he did not have a mean of these 
two temperatures, but that the whole showed a temperature of 32, and the ice 
was changed into water. He concluded that a large quantity of heat passed from 
the water into the ice and became hidden in changing it into water so that the ther- 
mometer could not take cognizance of it. He called this heat "latent heat." Black's 
researches were published in 1779, by Crawford. Reichmann, in St. Petersburg, 
found that the temperature obtained when quantities of the same liquids, un- 
equally heated, are mixed is the mean of their temperatures, reference being 
had to the quantity of each in the mixture. Wilke, in 1772, found, on mixing 
ice-cold water with water of a higher temperature, that Reichmann's law was 
confirmed. On taking equal quantities of water and of snow at the melting 
point, he found that, on mixing them, 72 degrees C. disappeared entirely, or be- 
came latent. He was then led to inquire whether different bodies required 
different amounts of heat to raise their temperature to the same degree, other 
things being equal. To this end, he heated the body under examination and 
plunged it into the ice-cold water, and noted how much its temperature was 
raised. Of course the mass of the body, as well as that of the water, was ascer- 
tained, in order to the necessary calculations. After the work of Wilke, inqui- 
ries respecting the specific heat of different bodies became frequent, and the 
value of such researches was fully recognized. It may be well here to give a 
sharp definition of " specific heat" that the reader may more fully appreciate the 
importance of the subject. The quantity of heat required to raise one unit 
mass (say kilogramme or pound) of a substance from zero to one degree, is its 
specific heat. It requires thirty times as much heat to raise the temperature of 
a quantity of water one degree as it does to raise the temperature of the same 
weight of mercury by the same amount, for example. 

This great capacity of water for heat makes it admirably fitted to play the part 
of a regulator of climate. It stores up heat in the warmer seasons of the year 
to be given out during the colder. So, too, the Gulf Stream, having its origin in 
the warm latitudes, conveys to the higher latitudes immense quantities of heat, 
which there become efficient in softening their rigor. 

It is evident that there are sources of error in this method of mixture, which 
must be carefully guarded against. The vessel in which the mixture is made 
will have its tempei-ature altered, and besides, it will be losing heat during the 
time of the necessary observations, by radiation. Careful treatment can, for the 
greater part, eliminate these. It was natural that other plans of procedure 
should be devised in order to confirm and correct, if need be, the determinations 
made by the method of mixtures. In 1777, Lavoisier and Laplace invented an 
ice calorimeter, by means of which they could find the specific heat of bodies 
by reference to the amounts of ice they could melt when raised to a given tem- 
perature. The facts brought to light by all these inquiries, and the means used 



I08 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

to secure them, raised anew the old controversies concerning the nature of heat. 
The vibratory theory was opposed by the theory which regards heat as a peculiar 
substance. And here, no doubt, as in other cases, the great avithority of Newton 
did much to influence the opinions of the contestants. He had taught that light 
is composed of exceedingly minute particles thrown off from the luminous body 
with great velocity. Why should not heat be material also ? Wilke held that it 
is, and that its particles are self-repellant, but are attracted by most other forms of 
matter. Every body has its own proper amount of this heat mat- 
ter, but when the condition of a body is altered the amount of heat it can 
contain is correspondingly changed. This view enabled him to offer plausible 
explanations of observed facts which had thitherto proved enigmas; for exam- 
ple, the changes in temperature of air when it is made to expand and when it is 
compressed. The theory of phlogiston, which was reigning in the contempo- 
raneous chemistry, was closely akin to this material hypothesis concerning heat; 
indeed, in some aspects, it was identical with it, as may be inferred from re- 
marks on an earlier page. 

The determination of the specific heat of gases is a difficult .problem, but one of 
the greatest theoretical importance. In fact, there are two specific heats to be 
determined for every gas. Since the expansion or the contraction of a gas is 
accompanied by a change of temperature, it is clear that the specific heat of a 
gas, if determined while the gas is so confined that its volume cannot alter, will 
differ from the specific heat when determined under conditions which permit 
changes in volume corresponding with the changes in temperature. The ratio of '^ 
one of these specific heats to the other is a different number for every different 
gas, and is closely related to molecular structure. In calculating the velocity of 
the transmission of sound through any given gas, this ratio is an important fac- 
tor. It is, hence, possible to determine this ratio independently of calorimetric 
methods by means of observations on the velocity of sound through any given 
gas. In Xevvton's time, knowledge of the relations here considered were want- 
ing, and for this reason he failed to make his calculated velocity of sound in air 
agree with the observed velocity. Laplace pointed out the reason for the disa- 
greement. 

Without delaying to mention details, it may be remarked in passing that the 
whole matter of the distribution of heat has been fully treated by the mathema- 
ticians, and notably by Fourier, who, between the years 1807 and 1820. commu- 
nicated to the Institute of France a complete analytical treatment of the problem 
involved. A very important law, established by Dulong and Petit, should be 
mentioned : The same amount of heat is required to raise an atom of any simple 
substance to a given temperature as is required to raise an atom of any other 
simple substance by the same amount. In other words, the product of the spe- 
cific heat and the atomic weight, for any simple body, is a i constant quantity. 
Kegnault has shown that this law may be extended to compound substances hav- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. ICQ 

ing the same composition. This law has an important theoretical bearing upon 
the views which we must hold concerning the constitution of matter. Many in- 
teresting relations of heat to changes in the form of matter must be passed 
by. The kinetic theory of gases is, however, too important to be left unmen- 
tioned. It is well known that any gas, if free to do so, will expand and fill any 
available space. This property was formerly attributed to the repulsive action of 
heat, with which the molecules were supposed to be charged, or united. The 
kinetic theory assumes that the least particles of a free gas are minute, perfectly 
(in a perfect gas) elastic solids, which are constantly moving with great velocity. 
Their paths are right lines, except when one particle encounters another, or the 
wall of the containing vessel. The aggregate of the blows struck by the moving 
particles constitutes the pressure which a gas can exert when confined. In the 
case of the atmosphere in which we move, the average pressure of 15 lbs. to the 
square inch is due to the united blows struck by the air particles per square 
inch of surface. When a confined gas is heated, this pressure increases. The 
kinetic theory asserts that this is due to the greater velocity of the particles. If, in 
the heated state, they were allowed to expand, they would at once assume a longer 
free path, and thus the expansion is explained. It is possible to calculate what 
is the mean average velocity of the particle, on the supposition that the kinetic 
theory is true, and the calculation is found to be consistent with the results of 
experiment. There are abundant reasons, which cannot be presented here, for 
the belief that the kinetic theory, thus briefly and imperfectly noticed, is correct. 
There remains a whole department in the domain of heat, which is of the great- 
est interest both for its theoretical and for its practical applications. This de- 
partment is called thermo-dynamics. The first law of thermo-dynamics has been 
mentioned when speaking of the notions which have prevailed concerning the 
nature of heat. It may be stated again thus: When heat is expended to perform 
work, the amount of work derived is mechanically equivalent to the heat which 
disappears. A second and no less important law is: Heat cannot, of itself , be 
made to pass from a colder to a hotter body; nor can it be made to pass from a 
colder to a hotter body by means of any inanimate material contrivance ; nor can 
any mechanism whatever be made to move by the simple cooling of any body 
below the temperature of surrounding bodies. 

A moment's consideration of these laws will make it clear that there are nar- 
row limits which the steam engine and other heat engines cannot pass as re- 
spects their efficiency. This depends, as is evident, on the difference in temper- 
ature between the in-going and the out-coming steam or hot air or gas. Xow, 
we cannot make this difference as great as we please; for this would compel us 
to construct boilers of unlimited strength (for which no materials are available), 
or to make a region of indefinitely low temperature for the exhaust steam to 
escape into (which is impossible). It is common to assume a point of absolute 
zero of tempei-ature 273 degrees below our practical zero C, for purposes of cal- 



I lO HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

culation, but no such removal of heat as this requires can be effected. The rea- 
son for assuming this particular point for the absolute zero is found in the beha- 
viour of a perfect gas. It is found that such a gas expands or contracts one 
273d part of its volume, at zero, for every degree of change in temperature 
reckoned from that point. If, therefore, 273 degrees of heat could be withdrawn 
from a gas at zero, and the same law should hold continuously, the entire motion 
of the particles of gas would cease, and the gas as a gas would be destroyed. 
This view offers some peculiar advantages for purposes of calculation. 

At present, only a small percentage of the theoretical value of the fuel expend- 
ed can be made available for driving an engine. All energy besides that de- 
rived from the tides is found, in the last resort, to have its origin in the solar 
radiations; this statement includes the energy of wind, falling water, muscular 
contraction, etc. This being so, the inquiry is at once raised, how the energy of 
the sun is maintained. The reply is that it is not certain that it is maintained. 
For aught we know, the sun may be growing cooler as the ages go by. Some 
evident means, however, may be pointed out, which, doubtless, contribute to 
keep up the supply of heat. It would only be necessary for the sun to contract in di- 
mensions by an amount which would be wholly imperceptible to us, in order to 
maintain its present rate of radiation. The meteorites, which, no doubt, are 
constantly falling into it in much larger amount than they strike the earth, must 
supply very great amounts of heat, and thus prevent the sun's temperature from 
falling off. The activities at present operating are having the effect, apparently, to 
reduce the universe to one common temperature. Such a state of things may, in 
the remote future, be reached, but the doctrine of the conservation of energy will 
not be contravened thereby, for the whole amount of energy will remain constant, 
though none of it will be available as at present. Heat is the lowest form of en- 
ergy, and consequently it is the form to which all others tend. Illustrations of 
this remark are seen in the generation of heat by collision, friction and mechan- 
ical action generally; also in the equalization of electrical accumulations, and in 
chemical action. The great generalization of the century — the statement of the 
doctrine of the conservation of energy — asserts that the sum of the energy of 
the universe remains constant through all the changes which it may experience, 
and it may be added that it appears to be certain that heat is to be its final form. 

With the countless practical applications of heat which have come about dur- 
ing our century, we need not deal, for they are on every hand, and are observed 
by all. 

SOUND. 

Sound evidently presents two different provinces for exploration — acoustics, 
which deals with the phenomena perceived by the ear, and music which has to 
do with the sensations thus excited as they affect our aesthetic nature. While 
these two provinces are in some sense distinct, they are yet so related that dis- 
course concerning the one would be difficult without reference to the other. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. I I I 

Concerning the nature of sound, the ancients had, of course, only the most 
imperfect notions. Empedocles (B. C. 490) taught tliat tlie sensation of sound is 
caused by the streaming of fine particles from tlie sounding body into the ear — 
a notion similar to that which prevailed respecting smell and taste. Aristotle, 
with better reason, held that it is produced by motions in the air correspond- 
ing to those of the sounding body. Vitruvius compared the action of the air in 
conveying sound to that of water when the waves spread out in circles from a 
point of disturbance. The Arabs, to a certain extent, cultivated music, and had 
some exact knowledge concerning its production by means of musical instru- 
ments. During the middle ages music was extensively developed under the in- 
tiuence of the church. In the 11th century a musical staff, with notes to desig- 
nate the pitch of sounds, was introduced by a Benedictine monk, Guido von 
Arezzo. He it was who virtually gave the names to the notes as we have them. 
Thej^ are taken from a song of praise to St. John, in which is a prayer that all 
impurity might be removed from his voice : 

" Ut qneant laxis resonare fibris, 
Mira, gestorum/rtmuli tuorum, 
Solve polluti lahii reatam, 
Sancte Joannes ? " 

That bodies emitting sounds are themselves in motion, must have been ob- 
served at an early date, but Galileo was the first to undertake an investigation of 
the relative frequency of the vibrations producing the octave, the fifth and the . 
fourth referred to the fundamental of the natural musical scale, though the an- 
cient Greeks knew the relative lengths of a stretched cord or organ pipe corre- 
sponding to these several pitches. When Galileo ascertained that the number of 
vibrations producing the octave, the fifth and the fourth, were in the ratios 2, 3:2, 
4:3, respectively, the fundamental being 1, he discarded the intangible physiolog- 
ical method of estimating pitch, and laid a foundation for a proper mathematical 
treatment. By accident, he came upon a beautiful confirmation of his results. 
As he was cleaning a brass plate with an iron scraper, he repeatedly heard tones 
of definite pitch, and he noticed minute indentations on the plate over which the 
scraper had passed. Measurements showed that the intervals between these inden- 
tations corresponded to the known ratios of frequency in vibration to which the 
notes were due. He made similar observations respecting the water waves in 
glasses which were made to sound by rubbing with the wet finger. Thus he 
was the first to observe the so-called " standing waves " produced by a sounding 
body. He did not neglect the physiological importance of the ratios he discov- 
ered. He believed that the ear had the power of combining easily those tones 
whose ratios of frequency can be expressed by simple numbers, and thus he en- 
deavored to find a basis for the sensations of concord and discord. 

Aristotle taught that the velocity of acute sounds is greater than that of grave 
ones, but Gassendi, born in 1592, showed that this is not so. He caused a mus- 
ket and a cannon to be fired at a distance, and, by observing the intervals be- 



112 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

tween the flashes and the reports, he found that the two sounds had the same 
velocity. He obtained, as a result, about 1473 ft. per second — somewhat too 
high. Mersenne published a work on harmony, in 1636, in which he gives the 
velocity 13S0 ft. per second. He had noticed that a vibrating string produces 
other notes than its fundamental — overtones, as we now call them. 

In 1686, the "Principia" of ]S"ewton appeared, in which is given a masterly 
mathematical treatment of the problem of the propagation of a pulse through 
an elastic medium. The special problem of the velocity of sound is considered, 
and the result obtained is 906 ft. per second. This is too small, as Newton well 
knew, for the various experimental determinations had made it certain that the 
true velocity must be between 1,000 and 1,100 feet. ISTewton proposed unsatis- 
factory explanations of the discrepancy, but it was reserved for Laplace to point 
out the real source of the disagreement, and to amend the formula of ^sTewton 
so as to make it conform to the ti'uth. ISTewtou's formula, so far as it went, was 
perfectly correct, but he failed to take into account the fact that, as a sound con- 
sists in condensations and rarefactions of the medium, say the air, and that, 
as these traverse every portion of the medium disturbed, there must be a 
development of heat and cold at every point successively, so that, on the whole, 
there is no alteration of temperature. The effect is that the rate at which both 
the condensation and the rarefaction proceed is accelerated. This grows out of 
the fact that when a gas is heated suddenly its elasticity is increased suddenly 
and conversely when it is suddenly cooled. The ratio of these two elasticities is 
the same as that of the two specific heats, which, in the case of air, is 1.11 : 1. 
This factor, 1.41. is the one which Laplace introduced into Newton's formula,, 
and thereby made it conform to the truth. Of course there is a factor de- 
pending on the temperature of the air at the time of the experiment. This is 
the one which expresses the expansion of air for one degree of temperature 
reckoned from zero, 0.003665. Thus the problem is completely solved and the 
theory fully established. 

There are other methods of determining the velocity of sound, one of which 
should here be mentioned, on account of the light which it casts upon other 
branches of physical inquiry. It can easily be shown by experiment that a 
sound wave emitted by an open organ pipe is twice the length of the pipe. If, 
therefore, we can determine how many such waves are produced in a second, we 
have only to take the product of this number by twice the length of the given 
pipe in order to find the velocity of sound, since all sounds travel with the 
same velocity. Moreover, if the pipe be made to sound in any other gas than 
air, it will give a pitch depending on the density of the gas and on the ratio 
of its two specific heats. Thus, by observing the pitch of a pipe of known 
length, and the density of the gas under examination, we can find the ratio of 
its two specific heats. But this is immediately connected with its molecular 
constitution, and hence we get an idea of simplicity or complexity of its molecu- 
lar constitution. Reference has been made to this matter under "Heat." 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. I I 3 

The labors of Galileo, Mersenne and others relating to the laws governing 
the vibrations of strings may be passed over with the remark that, important 
as they were, Dr. Taylor, in 1713, presented the results of experiment and dis- 
cussion in a simple mathematical formula, which shows the relations of the 
length, diameter, density and tension of the string to the number of vibrations 
which it can execute, or, what is the same thing, to its pitch. 

In all the discussion to which allusion is here made, reference was had only 
to the so-called transverse vibrations, such as are produced when a guitar is 
plucked or a piano string is struck. In 1701, Sauveur described the " over- 
tones " which accompany the lowest or fundamental tones given by the string, 
though he was not the first to observe them. An account of them was given in 
1677, by Wallis, whose pupils, Noble and Pigot, had discovered them, and also 
a means of making evident the behaviour of the string to which they are due. 
It had long been known that when two strings, in unison, are near each other, 
and one of them is made to sound, the other is set in vibration so as to sound 
also. This was ascribed to some action of the air, by means of which the mo- 
tion of one string was transferred to the other, but no reason could be given 
why the second string does not sound when it is not in accord with the first. 
Noble and Pigot stretched several strings in pairs, and so tuned them that one 
pair gave a certain fundamental and its octave, while the second pair gave the 
same fundamental and its twelfth, and the third pair gave the same fundamental 
and the second octave. On making the fundamentals sound, they found, on 
placing small paper riders on the corresponding strings, that the middle point 
of the first, two points dividing the second into thirds, and three points on the 
third, dividing it into fourths, were at rest. Thus the fact that the string can 
vibrate as a whole, and at the same time its parts can vibrate by themselves, 
was demonstrated. 

Sauveur called the stationary points nodal points, and the intervening vibrat- 
ing portions, ventral segments — names which they still retain. 

Some notion of these overtones had been formed by Mersenne, for he had 
noticed that when a string is struck at random so as to produce its fundamental 
tone, other faint tones are heard as the fundamental vibration dies away. Des- 
cartes, to whom he communicated his observation, rightly explained the origin 
of them, but fell into the error of supposing that they did not occur except 
when the string is made to give a false note. The fact is that the overtones are 
produced by all stringed instruments as well as by most others, and it is to them 
that the peculiar quality of each kind of instrument is due. 

These results do not appear to have had much effect in making clearer the 
cause of the characteristic sound of different musical instruments, nor were 
they made subservient to music as an art. As late as 1779, Fuuke, Professor 
of Physics at Leipzig, held that the " character" of the sound produced by a 
reed or a string is due to the motion of the molecules of which the reed or 
8 



114 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

string is composed. Lagrange, however, in 1772, showed that a string may 
be so set in vibration as to produce its fundamental tone only, or it may be 
plucked so as to develop certain overtones Passing the labors and disputes of 
others concerning the cause of overtones, it may be noted that in 1800 Dr. Young 
gave a full and complete explanation of them by referring them to the reaction 
of the portions of the string on either side of the point of disturbance (the point 
of plucking or bowing) on each other. A similar explanation applies to the col- 
umn of air in the organ pipe and to the reed, etc. But, besides the fundamentals 
and their overtones, others are heard when two strings, pipes or reeds are sound- 
ed together, there being a difference of pitch between them. These tones corre- 
spond in frequency of vibration, to the sum or to the difference of the vibration 
frequencies of the primaries. Lagrange, in 1759, referred them to the same 
cause which produces the well known beats when two strings or pipes, not quite 
in accord, are sounded together. Helmholtz has, however, shown that a dis- 
tinct sovmd wave results from two waves simultaneously produced, and that the 
resultant tone in question is due to this, and not to the production of beats by 
interference. 

Strings and rods, besides the transverse vibrations thus far considered, can also 
execute longitudinal vibrations, giving rise to musical sounds. If with the hand, 
armed with a glove on which a little powdered rosin has been strewn, friction be 
applied along the surface of a smooth rod of glass, metal or wood, the rod being 
firmly held by its middle point, a clear musical note will be produced. In a sim- 
ilar way, friction applied along the surface of a stretched string will produce a 
musical note. These facts were discovered by Chladni, and published in 1787-96. 
They have very important bearings both as respects the theory of acoustics and 
that of the elasticity of solids. The laws which pertain to the vibration fre- 
quencies, and so to the production of tones and overtones, are very similar to 
those which prevail in relation to organ pipes. But, since the tones given by 
rods, say of steel or iron, have vibration numbers which are directly as the 
square roots of their elasticities, it is clear that advantage may be taken of this 
relation to ascertain the relative elasticities of different samples of such metals. 
Thus the engineer may safely decide on the fitness of any proposed materials for 
his purpose in the construction of bridges, roofs, etc. So two arts, which, at 
first sight, seem to have nothing in common, are found to be so closely related 
that the data of the one are made the criteria for judgments in the other. 
Though out of place, it seems convenient to speak here of another simple test 
which is applied in determining the fitness of materials for a given use. If a 
uniform rod of iron or steel, or an indefinite length of wire, be made to pass in a 
constant direction and constant velocity near a freely suspended magnetic needle, 
the latter will assume and retain a fixed position so long as the metal remains 
homogeneous. But if the least flaw or imperfection pass before it, the needle 
will be disturbed. Thus, by means of magnetism, is the builder warned of local 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. II5 

tmperfections, while acoustics assure him of the general fitness or unfitness of 
his materials. Other similar applications of the data obtained by the study of 
acoustics might be given. As the density of a gas alters regularly with its tem- 
perature, it is easy to determine the latter by causing the gas to sound an organ 
pipe of convenient form and size. The experiment may easily be so conducted 
that we may determine the temperature of any highly heated region, say a fur- 
nace. It is only necessary to sound a small pipe of refractory material, as plati- 
num, porcelain, etc., after introducing it into the region to be tested, and to note 
the pitch of the sound. An easy calculation gives the temperature. The chem- 
ist can determine the density of a gas by merely noting the pitch of a pipe when 
blown with it, etc. 

It has been assumed that the pitch of every sound can be ascertained. It 
will be of interest to point out some of the ways in which this can be done. The 
simplest is that of Duhammel, inventedi n 1840. He attached a small style to 
the vibrating body, so that its point could trace a path on a prepared surface, 
such as smoked glass or smoked paper, which was made to move uniformly at 
right angles to the direction of vibration. When the vibrating body is set in mo- 
tion, a sinuous path is traced on the surface. It is only necessary to note the 
time during which the experiment lasts, and to count the number of undulations 
recorded on the surface, to know the number of vibrations made in a unit of time. 
The siren is also much used for the same purpose. It consists, essentially, of 
a revolving disc, having a number of equi-distant holes arranged in a circle about 
its axis of revolution. "When a jet of air is directed through a small tube so as 
to pass through each of the holes as they revolve past the tube, there is produced 
a musical note depending for its pitch on the number of revolutions which the 
disc makes in a second, and on the number of holes in the disc. Since we can 
know both of these, it is easy to determine the number of puffs of air, or the 
number of sound waves constituting note heard. Other sounds may be compared 
with those produced [by the siren, and thus their vibration frequencies may be 
found. There are still other methods which are frequently employed for the 
purpose in question, but they must be omitted. 

When, instead of a current of air, a blast of steam, at high pressure, is em- 
ployed to operate a suitably constructed siren, the sound produced is very loud. 
For this reason such a device is employed in the service of the Govern- 
ment for danger signals along the coast. A steam siren should be able to give a 
sound which can be heard a distance of 25 miles under favorable circumstances. 

A very striking effect is produced when the relative distance between the listener 
and the source of sound is rapidly changing. The principle involved is known 
as Doppler's principle. It was investigated by Buys Ballot, in 1845, on the rail- 
road between Utrecht and Maarsen. A trumpeter was placed on the locomotive, 
who blew his trumpet both when the locomotive was approaching and when it 
was receding from the listener, who was stationed by the road side. The loco- 



Il6 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

motive was moving with a speed of about 16 metres a second, and an alteration 
of the pitch, amounting to about a half tone, was produced. This alteration made 
the tone higher when the locomotive approached the listener, and lower when it 
receded from him. The same results were observed when the listener and the 
trumpeter exchanged places. The mathematical formula expressing the relations 
between the velocity of motion and the change in pitch produced thereby is a 
very simple one, and is of great use in determining the velocity of motion of the 
so-called fixed stars; for the same principle applies to light as to sound. In the 
case of light, we have to observe the resulting change in the color. 

When two sounds, having the same wave frequency and the same intensity 
or loudness, are so produced that the condensation of the one coincides with the 
rarefaction of the other, the air particles remain at rest and both sounds are 
destroyed completely. This result is easily produced by means of a common 
tuning fork. On striking the fork so as make it sound, a clear tone will be heard 
if it be presented to the ear; but if it be twirled between the fingers, intervals of 
silence will be observed alternating with the sound. This phenomena is called 
interference. There are various methods of producing it more satisfactorily than 
that just pointed out. They are made use of in investigating problems in sound 
as well as in light. In the latter case, two rays produce darkness. 

Our references to pi'ogress in the science of acoustics would be incomplete 
without a brief consideration of the physiological aspect of it. This can best be 
done after considering a little in detail the matter of resonance. It has been 
mentioned on a former page that if one of two strings (or sonorous bodies in 
general) be set in vibration, the other string, placed near it, if in unison, will 
also be set in vibration. The principle may be so extended that any number 
of strings will be set in vibration when one is sounded which is in accord 
with them. Moreover, if a single string be so set in vibration as to produce 
not only its fundamental, but its overtones, any strings which are in accord with 
the overtones will be set in vibration. Such cases may be called cases of free 
resonance. It was suspected early in the century that there existed in the coch- 
lea of the ear some arrangement of sonorous bodies which could respond, by 
such resonance, to any audible sound. Thus Dr. Young, in a course of lectures, 
published in 1807, speaks as follows: — 

"It has also been supposed that a series of fibres are arranged along the 
cochlea, which are susceptible of sympathetic vibrations of different frequency, 
according to the sound which acts upon them; and, with some limitations, the 
opinion does not appear to be wholly improbable." More recently Corti has 
discovered an anatomical basis for this action. In the middle compartment of 
the cochlea, he found arranged, side by side, like the keys of a piano, a great 
number of microscopic plates communicating, by one of their extremities, with 
the filaments of the acoustic nerve, and by the other with a stretched mem- 
brane. When a sound the vibration frequency of which is nearly the same as any 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. I I 7 

one of these plates could produce if it were set in vibration, is conveyed to the ear 
cavity, this particular plate will be disturbed, and so the nerve fibre connected 
with it will convey to the seat of consciousness a sensation which will be asso- 
ciated with that particular rate of vibration. Thus is the pitch of one sound dis- 
tinguished from that of another. There may be needed some modification of 
the brief statement here given, but that it is in the main correct, seems hardly 
doubtful. 

Modern research concerning the exceeding minuteness of the motions which 
may constitute audible sounds, has surprised all who are familiar with it. The 
actual displacement of the air particles by an audibly sonorous body is much too 
small to be conceived of, and must not be thought of as comparable with the dis- 
placement of the masses of air which are thrown out from our lungs in speaking. 
It was the failure to appreciate this fact which constituted one of the chief hin- 
derances to the development of telephony in its early days. 

LIGHT. 

The phenomena of light are more striking and more easily made subject to 
observation and experiment than those of the other physical disciplines; and it 
is doubtless for this reason that the science of optics was early cultivated with 
success and reached a comparatively high development. The early philosophers 
regarded the eye itself as a source of visual rays, which, coming in contact with 
external objects, gave a knowledge of them by a process similar to that involved 
in touch. Some modifications of this view were here and there held. Thus 
Empedocles taught that, besides the rays which go out from the eye, others go 
out from visible objects and mingling with each other, the two sets produce 
images of the body seen. Such general doctrines prevailed down to the middle 
ages, though Aristotle held that there must be some medium between the 
eye and the object, by means of which vision is effected, just as is the case with 
respect to sound. In opposition to the prevailing view, Aristotle inquired, " If 
the eye be the source of light, how is it not possible to see in the dark ? " 

Some facts concerning the reflection of light must have been known at an 
early date (Milton is no doubt right in making the first woman acquainted with 
it. See Par. Lost, Bk. iv, line 460), as is evident from Moses, and from the fact 
that mirrors are found in ancient Egyptian tombs. Archimedes is said to have 
set the Roman fleet on fire at Syracuse, by means of mirrors with which he con- 
centrated the rays of the sun upon their ships! We find, however, no statement 
of principles which implies that anything more had been attained than an em- 
pirical knowledge of the facts of reflection. The ancient knowledge concerning 
refraction was apparently even less exact than that concerning reflection, though 
the bending of a ray coming obliquely from an object lying in the water must 
have been known. The well-known experiment of the cup and the coin is men- 
tioned by Cleomedes (A. D. 50). Ptolemy left a work on optics, in which he 



Il8 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

discourses on vision, reflection and refraction. The laws pertaining to these 
matters, however, he did not know. Passing over a long interval, in which 
nothing of much value was accomplished for the science of optics, it may be 
mentioned that Vitellio, in the 13th century, attempted some of the more obvi- 
ous problems, such as the measurement of the amount of refraction which takes 
place when a ray passes from air into water obliquely, though it is true that 
Ptolemy had attempted the solution of some of them before him. Vitellio knew 
the fact that light is dispersed as well as refracted, and he applied his knowledge, 
with success, to the explanation of the rainbow. 

Mirrors of glass as well as of metal were known at an early period, but at first 
they were not coated with metal, as at present. The first who speaks of their be- 
ing coated with metal is Vincenz V. Beauvais, 1240. Mirrors were coated with 
an amalgam of mercury and tin, as at present, first in the 14th century. More 
important by far, the same century saw the introduction of spectacles. They 
were invented by Salvino degli Armati, who died 1317. 

In 1311, the brothers Theodorich wrote a work in which, although the exact 
law of refraction does not appear, the modern explanation of the rainbow is given 
with sufficient clearness. Murolycus, about 1575, investigated certain problems, 
and among them the round image of the sun, which is seen when its light is admit- 
ted into a darkened room through a very small hole. In 1589, Porta invented the 
camera obscura, and compared it with the eye. Kepler explained the defect of 
the eye called short-sightedness, and showed why it is corrected by the use of 
concave lenses. He also explained long-sightedness, and showed that it is reme- 
died by the use of convex lenses. 

The invention of the telescope, in 1608, was made by Lippershey, and it 
marks, doubtless, a most important epoch in physical science. The results which 
followed were, as generally happens when any great invention is made, mani- 
fold. Researches in optics were stimulated, in order to its improvement, and 
most astounding achievements in astronomy were made, among the first of which 
was the discovery of Jupiter's moons, by Galileo. 

The mathematical statement of the law of refraction was made by Snell, in 
Leyden, 1G26, and thus it appears that the invention of the telescope, the theo- 
retically best construction of which would imply a knowledge of this law, was 
made empirically. 

In 1611, De Dominis attempted to account for the colors which are produced 
when white light passes through a prism: " When white light passes through a 
prism, more or less of darkness, from the material of the prism, is mingled with 
it according as it passes through a longer or shorter path." Hence, according to 
him, the blue portion of the spectrum is turned toward the thicker part of the 
prism, since blue is darker than red. 

In 1644, Mersenne constructed the first reflecting telescope, although Zucchi 
had previously made an observation suggestive of it. It is clear, on considera- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. IIQ 

tion, that the early notions concerning the nature of light, might easily lead to 
two general theoi'ies. It might be regarded as consisting of material particles 
escaping from the eye or from the luminous body, or it might consist in the mo- 
tion of some medium intervening between the eye and the visible object, as 
Aristotle, in some vague way, believed. Descartes held a doctrine, in some 
sense, midway between these two general views. According to him, light is not 
produced by the setting up of waves in the proper sense, nor by the motion of 
particles emitted by the luminous body. It consists in a pressure, momentarily 
exercised, between bodies which are shining, and this pressure is able to affect 
our eyes by its impulses. 

Grimaldi (1618-63) made an observation which, at a later period, led to an uni- 
versal acceptance of the theory of undulations. He admitted a sunbeam into a 
darkened chamber through a very small hole. In the beam, at some distance 
from the hole, he set up a small rod and received its shadow on a screen. To 
his surprise, he found, instead of a single sharp shadow, a central shadow trav- 
ersed by several colored luminous bands, and he found on either side of the general 
shadow narrow luminous bands, alternating with dark ones. It was now, for 
the first time, clear that " light can shine around a corner." Grimaldi called the 
phenomenon " diffraction," a name which it still retains. Grimaldi was lead by 
these and other observations to regard light as consisting of wave motions in 
some medium not otherwise evident to our senses, and he compared these mo- 
tions to those which result when a stone is thrown into the water. He even at- 
tempted to explain the presence of the colors which the luminous stripes alluded 
to show, by supposing that the light medium is subjected to agitations, whose 
velocities differ. 

The colors due to thin films, such as appear on the surface of steel during the 
process of tempering, due to oxidation, and such as are exhibited by soap bul)- 
bles, were mentioned by Boyle, though he did not give any proper explanation of 
them. This was first done by iSTewton, who strenuously advocated the corpuscu- 
lar theory in opposition to the theory of Huyghens. Hooke espoused the theory 
of undulations, and a most bitter controversy between him and ISTewton resulted. 

Newton's work on the solar spectrum began in 1666, but the results of his re- 
searches were not laid before the Royal Society till 1672. As is well known, he 
showed that sunlight is composed of an indefinite number of colors, whose com- 
bined effect is to produce white light. He was no doubt justified in thinking this 
the most imporant discovery which had thus far been made concerning the nature 
of light. 

Deschales, born in 1674, discovered the so-called diffraction spectrum which is 
produced when a beam of light is reflected from a grating consisting of a great 
number of fine lines ruled on a plane surface of glass or metal. 

In 1704 appeared Newton's Optics, a complete treatise on all the then known 
phenomena of light. In this work he clearly shows that the production of the 



I20 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

prismatic spectrum is due to the unequal refraction of the different colors of the 
sunbeam. Moreover, he determined the indices of refraction of the several pri- 
mary colors into which he divided the spectrum. He was then able to show that 
the order of the colors of the rainbow and the width of the band conform to cal- 
culation. He turned his attention to the telescope in the hope of finding some 
means of correcting the colors with which it apparently invested objects seen 
through it. He concluded that it was impossible to construct an achromatic 
object glass, and that the only hope of the desired improvement lay in the use of 
reflectors. Dolland, however, satisfactorily solved the problem by the use of two 
kinds of glass differing in their indices of refraction. 

About the middle of the 18th century, Bouguer commenced the development 
of photometry, or the measurement of the intensity of light. In 1779, Lam- 
bert's work, in which he set forth the principles of photometry, appeared, and 
in it the light received from the sun and moon are estimated and compared. 

Galileo assumed the velocity of light to be indefinitely great. The Florentine 
Academicians endeavored to measure it, but without success. Eoemer, in 1676, 
solved the problem by means of observations upon Jupiter's moons. Bradley 
also solved the problem by an entirely independent method, in 1728. 

The phenomenon of double refraction presented by Iceland spar and by other 
crystals was accounted for by Huyghens on the supposition that the elasticity of 
such bodies differs in different directions, and subsequent researches have con- 
firmed this view. 

The explanation also rested on the doctrine of undulations. Newton, consid- 
ering the behavior of the two beams into which a single beam of common light is di- 
vided on passing through Iceland spar, concluded that each of them had ac- 
quired two-sidedness; that is, that the two beams had acquired different proper- 
ties on their contiguous sides. Malus, in 1808, discovered that light which has 
suffered reflection from the surface of glass, at an angle of 55 degrees, possesses 
the same properties, and he termed such light " polarized light." This observa- 
tion led to the complete overthrow of the corpuscular theory of Newton, by Dr. 
Young, and Fresnel, who independently showed that the puzzling phenomena 
of diffraction could be explained by the assumption of undulations which can 
interfere so as to destroy or to reinforce one another. Moreover, they showed 
that the peculiar phenomena, which are alone due to polarized light, can only be 
explained on the theory of undulations which take place at right angles to the 
path of progress of the light. The act of polarization consists in throwing all 
the transverse vibrations or undulations into two sets of parallel planes at right 
angles to each other. 

The hypothesis of Newton, besides being inconsistent with the phenomena of 
polai'ization, or, at least, incompetent to explain them, requires that the velocity 
of light shall be greater in dense bodies than in rare ones. It therefore be- 
came important to decide this question by experiment. Foucault undertook this 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 121 

work and decided in favor of the theory of undulations. At the same time, as 
the character of the experiment permitted, he determined the velocity of light 
independently of astronomical methods. The experiment consists in the use of 
a rapidly revolving mirror, from which the beam of light is sent to a distant mir- 
ror so placed as to send the beam back on its path by reflection, and in the use 
of some means of measuring the displacement of the beam from its point of de- 
parture, due to the motion of the revolving mirror. If we know the rate of rev- 
olution of the mirror, the distance to the fixed mirror, and the amount of the 
displacement of the beam, it is easy to calculate the velocity of light. More re- 
cent repetitions of the experiment, with various modifications, by several per- 
sons, have been made, among which may be mentioned those by Michaelson and 
Newcomb, in this country. The result may be stated in round numbers as 300,- 
000,000 metres in a second. 

Photography is an art of recent origin, and a short sketch of its rise and de- 
velopment must not be omitted. On its optical side, it had its germ in the inven- 
tion of the camera obscura, by Porta, in the second half of the sixteenth century. 
In the year 1556, Fabricius published an account of the printing of an image on 
a surface of chloride of silver (luna cornea) in shades of black and gray, by the 
action of sunlight, but he knew of no means of fixing the picture thus pro- 
duced. In 1777, Scheele found that the light in the blue and violet portions of 
the spectrum acted more strongly to change silver salts than the other portions. 
In 1802, Wedgwood and Sir H. Davy published a method of producing rough 
representations of objects by means of light, but even Davy knew of no means 
of rendering the results permanent. In 1813, Niepce, the elder, was able to re- 
produce engravings by the action of light, which was transmitted through them 
while they lay upon a plate of tin covered with a thin layer of bitumen of Judea, 
and also to fix in a transient way the image which was formed in the camera. 
Those portions of the bitumen which had been protected from the light 
remained unaltered, while the other portions on which the light acted were 
whitened. On plunging the plate thus changed into a bath of the essence of 
lavender, the unaltered portions were removed, and thus the picture was fixed. 
The result, however, was not satisfactory, and he tried many devices to im- 
prove it. 

In 1826, Daguerre, who had made some unsatisfactory advances in the rising 
art, solicited a correspondence with Kiepce relating to the subject. The result 
was a compact between the two to work jointly for the perfection of some plan 
of procedure. Daguerre abandoned the bitumen process, and sought to secure 
better results with iodide of silver. He found that with this he could produce 
a faint picture. This could be developed by the use of petroleum oil. At last 
he was led to try the vapor of mercur}^ as a developer, when at once, as by 
magic, the picture was developed. He wrote to Niepce concerning his success, 
but Niepce died before learning of it. 



122 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Photography was at last a fixed fact, and many now living will remember with 
what incredulity and curiosity the announcement was received. 

Daguerre entered into partnership with the son of his deceased co-laborer, and 
endeavored to secure capital to work the invention, but Avith the usual success — 
failure. He then decided to give his invention to the State. This was done 
through the intervention or Arago. The optical appliances of Daguerre were 
little suited to the .production of pictures of moving beings, and as the reproduc- 
tion of the human face was especially desirable, the opticians were stimulated 
to the production of better lenses, while, in the meantime, the perfecting of 
the chemical processes was pushed in every hopeful direction. Attempts were 
made in 1840 to secure portraits by the daguerreotype process, but the long time 
required to produce the picture made them unsatisfactory. Accellerators were 
found, such as the fumes of bromine, bromide of iodine, chloric acid, etc. These, 
together with the use of short focussed lenses, at last made it possible to reduce 
the sitting to four or five minutes in full sunlight. 

In 1834, Talbot, in England, was trying to fix the image formed in the camera 
on paper. Herschel solved the problem by the use of hyposulphite of sodium. 
This was a most important step. Besides being important in itself as adding to 
the range of the art, it led to the perfecting of paper so as to render it suitable 
for the purpose. In 1839, Herschel used glass plates to support his sensitive 
films for the taking of negatives. Niepce de Saint- Victor, employed glass coated 
with a thin film of albumen, which he rendered sensitive by plunging it into a 
bath of potassium iodide, and subsequently into another of silver nitrate. 

LeGray suggested the use of collodion instead of albumen as a means of hold- 
ing the sensitive silver salts. The collodion process, till lately, almost univer- 
sally employed in portrait and landscape photography, in its full and nearly per- 
fect development, was introduced in 1851 by Scott Archer and Dr. Diamond. 

What has just been said applies to the process for producing the negative, or 
the picture in which the lights and shadows as they are in nature are reversed. 
The positive of the finished pictures is, as is well known, printed on paper. 
This is done by simply placing the negative flat on sensitive paper and exposing 
to the direct action of sunlight till the picture appears |in full intensity, after 
which it is fixed by immersing in a bath of hyposulphite of sodium. It is then 
washed and "toned " with chloride of gold. 

In the same year in which the discovery of Daguerre was announced Muugo 
Ponto found that paper, which has been treated to a solution of bichromate of 
potassium, can have a photographic image developed by the action of light in a 
camera or under a negative. This is due to the oxidizing action of the bichro- 
mate under the influence of light. It was soon found that other organic bodies 
besides paper — such as gelatine, gum, starch, albumen — are acted on in a similar 
way, and that, where the action takes place, they are rendered insoluble. Poitevin 
made use of these facts for the production of pictures with these substances, 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 23 

mixing with them powdered carbon. Swan, "Woodbury, Johnson and others 
extended the process and improved it. Means were soon found, notably by 
Albert and Edwards, to print in printer's ink as many positives from such nega- 
tives as might be desired. For purposes of duplicating books, engravings, and 
illustrations, the process in some one of its modifications is invaluable, and is in 
constant use. 

More recently the so-called wet process, in which collodion is employed in con- 
nection with a nitrate of silver bath for preparing the sensitive plate, have been 
largely superseded by the so-called dry plate processes. In these the bromide of 
silver is generally employed. The silver salt is introduced into the collodion, or, 
better, into gelatine, and the resulting emulsion is poured over the glass plate in 
an even film, in the dark room, and carefully dried with exclusion of light. Such 
plates, when carefully prepared, are exceedingly sensitive, and therefore rapid 
in their action. They are hence suited to instantaneous photography. With 
good light they require only a very small fraction of a second to produce good 
pictures. They are therefore used to produce pictures of objects in rapid motion, 
as the crowds and carriages in motion in the bustling street, birds in flight, horses 
in the race, etc. The most important application of these rapid processes is to be 
found in astronomy, where they can do the work of the observer with the greatest 
fidelity. Indeed they record the presence of objects which escape the eye alto- 
gether. They have the advantage over the eye that they do not get tired, and 
that plates may be exposed for long periods, and thus the effect of the faintest 
light is rendered cumulative. Photography has in fact opened a new method of 
attack for the astronomer, and brought within his reach a class of problems which 
otherwise were insoluble. This will be alluded to under our observations on the 
spectroscope. 

Our limits will permit only the most brief mention of the principles of " Spec- 
trum Analysis." This is the name applied to a method of ascertaining the com- 
position of bodies by examination of the light which they emit when brought into 
a volatile condition by the application of heat. In 1802, "Wallaston admitted a 
solar beam into a darkened chamber through a narrow slit and viewed it at a dis- 
tance of ten or twelve feet, through a colorless glass prism. He thus found the 
spectrum traversed transversely to its length, by a great number of dark lines 
and colored bands. In 1814-15, Fraunhofer published in the " memoirs " of the 
Academ}^ of Munich a map of these dai-k lines as they appear in the solar spec- 
trum, and designated some of the principal ones by letters of the alphabet. These 
lines are hence known as Fraunhofer's lines. The spectroscope employed by him 
consisted of a glass prism to which the narrow beam of light was admitted, and 
a telescope through which the resulting spectrum was viewed. By means of this 
arrangement he was able to see and to map between five and six hundred lines. 
Kirchhoff modified the spectroscope of Fravinhofer by increasing the number of 
prisms and by the employment of a " collimator," that is, by the use of a second 



124 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

telescoiDe in which the eye-piece was replaced by a tube bearing an adjustable slit 
through which the light was admitted. With this arrangement he made a map of 
more than three thousand lines. When it was attemj^ted to compare the maps 
made by one observer with those made by another, it was found that, while the 
lines were in general arranged in the same order, their distances from each other 
depended on the variety of the glass or other material of which the prisms were 
composed, on the temperature at which the observations were made and of the 
peculiarities of adjustment. To avoid this inconvenience recourse was had to 
the spectrum produced by "gratings;" that is, to the spectrum which is formed 
when a beam of light formed by a narrow slit falls on a plate of glass having a 
great number of fine lines ruled very close to each other and at equal distances. 
Gratings answering the purpose better have more recently been made by ruling 
the lines on the surface of speculum metal, which is made quite plane. The 
spectrum is then produced by interference taking place in the reflected beam. The 
greatest accuracy is required in the ruling of the lines to secure that they shall be 
drawn at equal distances. Our own countrymen, Mr. Rutherford of "New York, 
and Professor Rowland of Baltimore, have succeeded in the construction of divid- 
ing engines by means of which this result is secured to a very high degree. 

Professor Angstrom, of Sweden, was among the first to employ a spectroscope 
in which the prism was replaced by a grating, in mapping the solar spectrum, on 
something like a complete scale, and his work will always remain a monument of 
skill and wonderful accuracy. It is, however, now completely superseded by the 
magnificent photographs of the spectrum recently made by Professor Rowland. 
In these there are clearly drawn by the action of the light itself many thousands of 
lines, which are at their normal distances depending on the absolute length of the 
light waves at their respective places in the spectrum. The gratings by means 
of which these wonderful spectra are produced are ruled on concave metallic sur- 
faces ground and polished with mathematical precision. 

But what is the meaning of these lines? This question is easily answered in 
the light of a principle announced by Euler. It is as follows: the same kinds of 
undulations, or waves, can be received or absorbed by bodies as the bodies them- 
selves would be able to emit under the same conditions as those in which the 
luminous or light giving body is placed in any given case. Angstrom was led to 
the conclusion that any body at a glowing heat gives out the same kinds of light 
and heat as it will absorb when such rays fall upon it. With some limitations 
this principle has been established. The first decisive experimental proof of it 
was made by Kirchhoff in 1859. If the lime of the calcium light be viewed 
through the spectroscope, there will be seen a continuous spectrum with the red 
at one extremity and the violet at the other. But if now the flame of an alcohol 
lamp be placed before the slit so that the light from the incandescent lime must 
pass through it, and some common salt be introduced into the flame, there will 
be seen a dark line crossing the spectrum in the yellow. On cutting off the light 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 25 

from the lime a bright line will be seen at the exact point where the dark one was. 
In other words the salted flame can absorb the same kind of light which it can 
emit. By the expression, the same light, is meant light having the same color or 
having the same wave length. 

To explain the occurrence of the Fraunhofer lines we may consider that the 
sun is a body at so high a temperature that all known substances, at its sur- 
face, must exiist in a condition of vapor. Thus the principal body of the sun 
must be surrounded by clouds of incandescent vaporized materials. These, 
though hot enough to be self-luminous cannot be at so high a temperature as the 
interior nucleus of the sun itself, since radiation must be constantly taking place. 
Thus, in accordance with the principle stated above, these vaporized matters 
absorb, in part, such peculiar kinds of the light, coming from the sun's nucleus 
as they would be able to emit if at the same temperature as the nucleus itself; 
hence the solar spectrum is traversed by great numbers of comiDffi-atively dark 
lines, corresponding in thickness to the width of the slit which admits the light to 
the prism or grating of the spectroscope. 

Kirchhoff and Angstrom, besides mapping the position of the Fraunhofer lines, 
determined the significance of many of them by comparing them with the bright 
lines seen in the spectroscope when bodies the composition of which we know 
are rendered vaporized by high incandescence, and the resulting light is examined 
by means of this instrument. Many others have from time to time aided in the 
work of thus identifying the solar lines so that we can now say with great confi- 
dence that there are many substances in the composition of the sun which are 
identical with those with which we are familiar. Nor is this all; on the contrary, 
the spectroscope has given rise to a branch of inquiry, which may with some pro- 
priety, be called celestial chemistry. The old conjecture that the stars are suns 
has been fully confirmed, and much has been done towards ascertaining their 
composition and physical constitution. It is just here that photography is able to 
render the most important aid. For it has very recently been found possible to 
photograph the stellar spectra with the greatest fidelity. In other words, the 
elementary constituents of the remotest stars have been compelled to write their 
autographs so that they can be completely identified. 

The spectroscope finds constant application in our chemical laboratories, and 
such is the delicacy of its indications that it needs but a glance to detect the ele- 
mentary constituents of a given compound or mixture. Nor is this all; a careful 
study of the spectra of the different elements has started questions of their rela- 
tionship to each other, and to some common but unknown form of existence from 
which they may all be constituted. For the solution of such questions we may 
expect much from astronomical physics and chemistry, for, in the great variety 
of suns which the heavens present are found conditions which we cannot produce 
by any means at our command, and it is not unlikely that in some of these may 
be found the means of progress. In such matters the safest prophecies are made 
after the events to which they relate. C. F. Brackett. 



126 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

CENTENNIAL POEM. 

Dear, native town, thy children bring 

Their gifts of love today; 
Of thee, our happy voices sing, 

To thee, we homage pay, 
A little while together wait 

Around thy altar here. 
In unison to celebrate 

This glad Centennial Year, 

How many changing years have passed 

Since thou, an infant small 
Wast cradled in the forest vast 
• Among the pine-trees tall! 

Today we find a gray, old town 

So peaceful, lingering here. 
Its furrowed face without a frown 

This glad Centennial Year. 

Our fathers tilled this rugged soil 

Long years, with tender pride. 
Content to gain for patient toil, 

A few green acres wide. 
The old, home farms, with sunny slopes, 

To many hearts are dear, — 
About them cluster sweetest hopes 

This glad Centennial Year. 

Yon gray-haired men of stately mien 

Once played among these hills, 
And fished for mottled trout, I ween. 

In pebbly, mountain rills. 
From cities' toil and din they come 

With us, to gather here, 
And view once more their childhood home, 

This glad Centennial Year. 

With thankful hearts we'll sing God's praise 

For all His care and love ; 
A glad, triumphant song we'll raise 

To Heavenly courts above. 
A last good-bye, one look around 

On faces ever dear; — 
With tender mercies God hath crowned 

This glad Centennial Year. 

ISADOBE E. MeREILL. 




■M 



:*»*'' 



^^. ^^-^^^ 



HON. L.D.M. SWEAT. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 27 

LAWYERS OF PAESONSFIELD. 

BY P. W. MCINTYRE. 

Philip W. Mclntyre of the Portland Argus, gave a short account of the later 
lawyers, supplementary to the description by Mr. Bradbury of the four early 
members of the bar from Parsonsfield, and called attention to an important omis- 
sion made by the orator of the day. He said that it had fallen to his lot, in place 
of the Hon. L. D. M. Sweat, whose business engagements do not afford him 
leisure to treat the subject, to say something about the later lawyers of Parsons- 
field. This he did at the request of Mr. Sweat and of the Centennial committee. 
" You can appreciate my sorry plight," he said, " called upon as I am, to rattle 
round in Mr. Sweat's place. My data are scanty, my acquaintance on the whole 
with the men of whom I am to speak, is limited, though some of them I have 
personally known, and all of them are known to me by the fair repute in which 
they are held by their neighbors and clients. For the errors or omissions, or 
injustices I do, I beg your indulgence. 

" To one thing, however, I must call your attention at the start. You have all 
listened with intense interest, with pricked ears, as the common saying has it, to 
the eloquent and edifying oration of Mr. Bradbury. You have in mind his 
picturesque descriptions of the hamlets and families that clustered about the 
Middle Eoad— that village all shut in by hills— in the days of his youth, and his 
generous tribute to departed worthies. And you have noticed that he has made 
a serious omission for which I think modesty is not an adequate excuse. 

" No account of the lawyers of Parsonsfield, of the men who have made a 
study of the noblest science known to the world — the science of law, of regulat- 
ing communities, of shaping legislation, of arbitrating the quarrels that must 
arise between man and man — could be complete, or in the least satisfactory with- 
out the mention of James Ware Bradbury, who has served us in the Senate of 
the United States, and whose life is identified with the growth and prosperity of 
the Union. The admirable account given by Dr. Ricker in his exhaustive paper 
renders unnecessary the repetition of biographical data. To that record no words 
of mine can add weight. The veteran statesman to whom you have listened to- 
day is enjoying the calm honors of his age in the capital of the commonwealth 
he has aided to make illustrious. 

" Dr. Ricker's admirable address also renders unnecessary an extended biograph- 
ical sketch of the gentleman whose place I so inadequately fill today. 

Mr. Sweat, 
in whose private and public career we all take so much pride, whose excellent 
taste in literature and art is recognized by society, and whose efforts while a mem- 
ber of Congress to promote the success of that great national highway, the 
Northern Pacific railroad, are known of all men, is dear to you, aside from his 
personal achievements, and the deeds he has done in the public service, as th e 



128 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

son of that admirable physician, that accomplished surgeon, that father-confessor 
of Parsonsfield, that man who listened to its grievances and bore its burdens, the 
beloved Doctor Moses Sweat. 

" Lorenzo D. M. Sweat, who has been so notably prominent in both private and 
public life, was born in Parsonsfield, May 26, 1818, His early education was 
under the instruction of his father. Dr. Moses Sweat, the private tuition of Prof. 
Davidson of Edinburgh, Scotland, and at the academies in neighboring towns. 
At the celebrated institution of learning at Effingham, N. H., his preceptor was 
James Ware Bradbury, a native of Parsonsfield, and subsequently United States 
Senator from Maine. When under the age of fourteen he taught a large winter 
term of school in Porter, Oxford county, displaying great energy and force of 
character, and governing unruly boys who had nearly reached their majority. 
He entered Bowdoin college in 1833, and was graduated with high honors in 1837, 
ranking among the first three of an unusually able class. He then entered the 
law office of Hon. Rufus Mclntire of Parsonsfield, and took up the profession to 
which he had determined to devote his life. Thence he went to Portland, to the 
office of Howard & Osgood. He completed his legal studies at the Harvard Law 
School and was admitted to the Cumberland bar in the fall of 1840. 

" That same year he went to New Orleans and entered the office of the famous 
Pierre Soule, where he thoroughly mastered the civil code, was admitted to the 
Louisiana bar, and opened an office for himself in 1841. He was summoned 
home by the serious illness of his mother, and at the desire of his parents relin- 
quished his intention of remaining in the South. He entered upon the practice 
of the legal profession in Portland, where he has ever since resided. 

" In 1849 he married Margaret J. , the daughter of John Mussey, a lady who as 
author and essayist is widely known, and who has for the past eighteen years 
been the Maine Vice-Regent of the Mount Vernon Association and its Secretary 
of Councils. In 1855 he traveled with his wife and brother John in Europe, 
making an extended sojourn. On his return he was made City Solicitor of Port- 
land, a position he again held in 18G0. In 1861 and 1862 he was elected State 
Senator. The latter year he was chosen as a democrat to the 38th Congress from 
the strong Republican First district, greatly on account of his well-known sym- 
pathy with the prosecution of the war for the restoration of the Union. 

" In that Congress he distinguished himself by his advocacy of or opposition to 
the great measures debated in that stirring time. He served on the committee 
on private land claims, and on the special committee on Pacific railroads. To 
him, perhaps more than to any other man, we are indebted for the building of 
the Northern Pacific railroad. He made the first speech in its favor, delivered in 
the halls of Congress. The project at that time was deemed chimerical, but his 
eloquence and convincing logic set the tide turning the other way. In a sense 
he may be called the father of that great trans-continental line. He also distin- 
guished himself in debate against Henry Winter Davis and Thaddeus Stevens, 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. I 29 

"when their proposed scheme for the confiscation of Southern property came to 
be argued. 

" In 1863, the most famous joint discussion, perhaps, ever held in Maine, tpok 
place between Mr. Sweat and the Hon. James G. Blaine in Portland City Hall — a 
debate in which the former fully held his own. 

" Mr. Sweat was re-nominated for Congress in 1864 and 1866. He attended 
the National Democratic Convention held at Philadelphia in 1872, where he was 
chosen member of the National Committee, serving four years. He was also 
present at the National Democratic Convention of 1876, in St. Louis, where he 
did what lay in his power to secure the nomination of Mr. Tilden, whose full 
confidence he always enjoyed. 

" In 1873, he again visited Europe, and crossed the Mediterranean to Egypt. 
He was Honorary Commissioner to both the Paris and the Vienna World's 
Expositions. At this date of writing he is about to sail for Europe again. 

"During his active practice of law he was partner of Judge Samuel Wells 
(afterward Governor of Maine), Bion Bradbury, and Nathan Cleaves. 

" For the last four or five years he has been the counsel and attorney for the 
Northern Pacific Eailroad. 

" In politics Mr. Sweat has always been a democrat. 

" Permit me in this connection, to speak of another son of York county, who, 
though not born in Parsonsfield, won his spurs here; and after completing his 
collegiate course, began the active duties of life by teaching two terms of school 
at the little schoolhouse situated on the Town Common in Middle Road Village. 
I refer to Bion Bradbury, one of the most accomplished gentlemen, scholars and 
lawyers that Maine — so rich in manly products — has ever produced." 

Mr. Mclntyre then briefly and categorically spoke of the late lawyers of Par- 
sonsfield, beginning with mention of Robert T. Blazo, the Nestor and dean of 
the York County bar, who is now nearing the end of a long and useful life, and 
whose face is familiar to all the residents of Parsonsfield. 

Robert Tibbetts Blazo, 

son of Daniel and Abigail (Chapman) Blazo, was born at North Parsonsfield, 
Aug. 11, 1797. His education was received at town schools and the academy at 
Limerick in 1818; also, at Fryeburg, Effingham and Wolfboro. He commenced 
study of law in 1825, with Emerson & Hoyt, at Sandwich, N. H., and remained 
with them for about one year, and then Emerson having removed to Moultonboro, 
N. H., he continued the study of law with him. He was admitted to Strafford 
County bar in 1S30, and went into practice at Moultonboro, remaining there about 
four years. He then removed to Sandwich and practised there about five years. 
Thence he removed to Parsonsfield in 1839, where he has continued the practice 
of law, and also farming, up to this time; although on account of advanced age he 

9 



^30 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

has not attended court regularly for the past six years. He was married to Mary 
Freeman in 1835. He has two sons and two daughters. He has accumulated 
much property, and is now regarded as one of the wealthiest men in town. 
The following summary is given of the sketches that followed: 

James Otis McIntire, 
son of Rufus McIntire, was born in Parsonsfield, March 5, 1822. Was graduated 
at New Hampton in 1838, and entered the United States Military Academy at 
West Point in 1840. He held the commission of Captain in the Mexican war. 
After that he studied law with his father, was admitted to the bar in 1847, and 
went into partnership with the Hon. John Jameson of Cornish. In 1848 he was 
elected Clerk of Courts for York county, and held that office ten years, being, 
the Supreme Court Judges of those days say, the most efficient clerk that up to 
that time had held the office. Subsequently he became President of the Alfred 
bank. In 1870 he removed to Parsonsfield, and died there in 1875, having the rare 
fortune— among our migratory people— to die in the house in which he was born. 
He was possessed of admirable literary taste, and had he chosen to devote him- 
self to letters, would have made his mark in the world of books. Generous, 
impulsive, honest and genial, he made hosts of friends who mourn his premature 
death. He was a man of commanding personal presence. 

Caleb B. Lord 
was born in Parsonsfield in 1819. At an early age he evinced a strong predis- 
position for study, and applied himself to books. After an academic course at 
'New Hampton, he entered upon the study of law with Rufus McIntire, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1843. Soon after, he entered upon the practice of his pro- 
fession in Limerick, where he was known as a prudent counselor and trustworthy 
advocate. In 1858 he was elected Clerk of Courts for York county, and was 
twice re-elected, holding the position for nine consecutive years, and proving 
himself one of the most efficient men that ever held that onerous position. In 
1870 he represented Alfred in the Legislature. In 1871 he was appointed Asses- 
sor of Internal Revenue, and held that position until it was abolished by act of 
Congress. After that he lived at Alfred in honorable leisure, occupying himself 
with that delightful pursuit, agriculture. [He died October 15, 1885.] 

Henry Bailey, 
son of John and Salome Bailey, of Parsonsfield, was born October 18, 1842. He 
attended the town school in district No. 8, Parsonsfield. In 1859-60 he attended 
school at the North Parsonsfield Seminary. In 1861-62-63, he was at Effingham 
Seminary. October 1 , 1863, he left Parsonsfield for the West with SlOO borrowed 
money in his pocket, and when he arrived at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, he bad S3.50 
left. He studied law for a part of the season of 1864, and then went into the 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. I3I 

army as Captain of Co. C, 53d Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served till 
1865, when he was mustered out of the service. He resumed the study of law 
and was admitted to practice in April of 1866, and has since resided in Oshkosh. 
In 1869 and 1870 he served one term as Judge of the Municipal Court. He is a 
prominent citizen of that flourishing town, and a striking example of Maine 
pluck and fortune in the West. 

William Daniel Knapp, 

son of Daniel and Betsey (Neal) Knapp, was born in Parsonsfield, Me., Sunday, 
October 17, 1830, attended the district school in the Emerson school district, two 
terms of tuition school at the Middle Road, and two terms at the seminary at 
North Parsonsfield under the instruction of Rev. John FuUonton; moved to Con- 
way, N. H., in 1844; fitted for college at South Conway Academy, and was gradu- 
ated from Dartmouth College in 1855. Taught school before graduating, in Con- 
way, Jackson and Tamworth, N.H., and in Newbury, Ipswich, Ashby and Groton, 
Mass. After graduation was principal of Lebanon Academy, West Lebanon, 
Maine, until December, 1856. Read law with Wells & Eastman at Great Falls 
village in Somersworth, N. H., and was admitted to the bar at Alfred, in York 
county, Me., September 22, 1858, and has been in the practice of law at Great 
Falls, N. H., ever since. He held the office of School Commissioner for Strafford 
county for two years from July, 1860, and was Secretary of the New Hampshire 
Board of Education from July, 1861, to July, 1862. He has been Treasurer of 
the town of Somersworth since 1866, and one of the selectmen several years. 
He was a Representative to the New Hampshire Legislatui'e in 1870 and 1871. 
He was appointed Justice of the Police Court of Somersworth in August, 1809, 
and still holds the position. His career has been eminently successful. 

Judge William G. Chadbourn, 

son of Israel Chadbourn, was born in Parsonsfield, Dalton's Corner, and there 
lived until about nine years of age, when he went to reside with his grandparents 
at Berwick, Me., and Somersworth, N. H., where he continued to live until 1831; 
then came to Alfred in September of that year, his parents having removed there 
the previous June. Lived at Alfred some six or seven years, when he left for 
Gorham Seminary. He read law in the offices of the late Judge Goodenow at 
Alfred, who was then Attorney General of Maine; the late Hon. Rufus Mclntire 
of Parsonsfield, then Land Agent of Maine, and the late Mr. Justice Clifford of 
Newfield, then a member of Congress. It seemed to fall to his lot to keep law 
offices open and running while the principals were attending to their official duties 
outside of their several offices. Having been brought into close connection with 
all the members of York bar when quite young, as clerk in the clerk's office, 
earning him a reputation at court of having some knowledge of the routine of law 
offices, perhaps explains why he was sought for in so many offices. He was ad- 
mitted to the bar at Alfred, May 20, 1841 , but did not enter into practice until 



132 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

1842, keeping his studies up as before admission until he opened an office in 
Brooks, Me,, June, 1842, remaining in practice there until the spring of 1843; 
then removed to "VVestbrook, Me., where he continued practice up to 1855, when 
he removed to Portland, continuing in practice there up to 1856, when he was 
appointed Judge of the Police Court, which he held until a change in the admin- 
istration put another man in his place, and was soon after appointed to one of the 
best positions in the customs under the late Moses McDonald, then Collector of 
the port. When President Lincoln's administration came into power he, with 
others, went out, not exactly under the modern civil service rules, but because 
outside followers wanted their places for the money in them. Not having relin- 
quished practice while connected with the customs he continued in it until 1871, 
when he removed to Boston, Mass., opened an office, and still resides there. 

Emery S. Ridlon 

was born at Kezar Falls,. April 21, 1841. He was educated in the common schools 
and at Parsonsfield Seminary. For ten years after leaving school he was engaged 
in teaching. In 1864 he began the study of law with the Hon. Caleb R. Ayer of 
Cornish. Hfe was graduated from the Albany Law School in 1867, and was ad- 
mitted to the Albany bar the same j'ear, and to the York county bar. He imme- 
diately began the practice of his profession at Kezar Falls, where he gained the 
success to which his merits entitled him. In 1872 he removed to Portland and at 
once entered upon a successful practice. He was made a member of the City 
Council in 1878, and of the school committee in 1879. After 1880 he resided in 
Deering, but his law office was in Portland, where he had a lucrative practice, 
and where he took position among the best lawyers at the Cumberland county 
bar. [He died April 11, 1887, leaving a widow and son.] 

J. M. Brown 

was born at North Parsonsfield, April 15, 1838. He is the son of Simon and 
Sally Brown. At Parsonsfield Seminary he received his College fitting. Some 
four years he spent in farming and teaching, then entered the law office of the 
Hon. Caleb R. Ayer in Cornish, attending and was graduated from the Harvard 
Law School, and was subsequently admitted to the York County bar. He entered 
upon the practice of his profession at Kezar Falls, in partnership with Emery S. 
Ridlon, Esq. He afterwards removed to Boston, where he is now engaged in 
active practice, making his residence at Milton. Soon after settling in Massa- 
chusetts he was commissioned by the Governor as Trial Justice for Stoughton, 
and while residing there married Miss Fanny S. Sackett. His career has been 
prosperous. 

William H. Wiggin, 

son of Daniel Wiggin, was born in 1823. He studied law with Henry Holmes 
and Samuel Thompson of Sanford; was graduated at Ballston Spa Law School, 



'<^ 







^. I). Aa. 



cU- 



Emery S. Ridlon.esq. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 33 

Kew York, and was admitted to the York county bar in September, 1S53. He 
settled in Sanford, and there practiced his profession for a short time. He then 
turned his attention to other business, and became interested in contracting for 
tin-roofing. and the iron trade, wherein he met with great success. Most of his 
business was in the southern and western states. In 1870 he was married in 
St. Louis, and made his home there until his death in 1879. He left behind him 
the reputation of an honest, capable and energetic man. 

I think you will all agree with me in my belief that Parsonsfield, a town that 
has contributed so many men to so many worthy pursuits, has done her share in 
promoting the advancement and dignity of the ancient and honorable profession 
of law. 



134 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

PHYSICIANS OF PAESONSFIELD. 

A brief paper on the physicians of the town was prepared and read at the Cen- 
tennial celebration, by Rev. L. T. Staples, he having been assigned that duty; 
and until this late date, when the printers are calling for " copy," it was expected 
of him to furnish it for publication in the history, but for some reason the article 
is not forthcoming, only the assertion that he is, in consequence of pressing 
duties and scarcity of material, unable to prepare and furnish the paper. This 
much by way of apology for the sketches which follow. 

The town was settled ten years prior to its incorporation. The name of the first 
medical practitioner I am unable to ascertain; nothing save the fact that a French 
physician settled at North Parsonsfield, among those first on the ground, and 
practiced there for a few years. 

Dr. John J, Blaisdell 

was the next, but how long he practiced in town is not now known. He also 
settled at North Parsonsfield, married Susan, daughter of Philip Paine, and in 1800 
moved to Dixmont, Me., where he died in 1806. He studied medicine with Dr. 
Hall Jackson of Portsmouth. His grandfather, Amos Blazo, born in Bordeaux, 
France, emigrated to the United States about the year 1735 and settled in Green- 
land, N. H. The fourth son, William, moved to Wakefield, N. H., and changed 
his name to Blaisdell, — had three sons, the eldest Simeon and the youngest Dr. 
John J., settling in Parsonsfield. Amos, Jr., youngest son of Amos of Bordeaux, 
settled in Parsonsfield, from whom all the Blazos in this section have sprung. 
The Blaisdells and Blazos are of the same parent stock. 

James Bradbury, M. D., 

was the next in point of time. The following sketch of his life is from the pen 
of his son, Hon. J. W. Bradbury of Avigusta: James Bradbury was born in York, 
District of Maine, April 27, 1772; son of Cotton Bradbury, and grandson of the well 
known patriot. Elder John Bradbury of York. The family are descendants of 
Thomas Bradbury, who emigrated from Wicken Bonant, Essex county, England, 
in 1634, and was secretary of Ferdinando Gorges; settled in Salisbury, Mass., and 
raised a numerous family. Dr. Bradbury obtained a good education, and studied 
medicine in his native town. He settled in Parsonsfield in 1798, and soon ac- 
quired an extensive practice in which he continued more than forty years. He 
gave up active business and removed to Windham in 1843, to be near his only 
daughter, the wife of Dr. Charles G. Parsons, and died there February 7, 1844. 
He was a sound and judicious physician, commanding the respect and confidence 
of his extensive circuit of practice. As a citizen, father and husband he was 
cherished and beloved. An honest man of high toned morality, he became per- 
sonally interested in religion in 1816, and joined the Free Baptist church, and 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 35 

continued in communion with that body until his death. It falls to the lot of few 
phj^sicians to have added to the profession so large a number of honorable mem- 
bers as did Dr. Bradbury. 

The following, though not a complete list, composes all now recollected by the 
writer, of the gentlemen who commenced and pursued to a greater or less extent 
their medical studies with him: Moses Sweat, Burleigh Smart, Eleazer Burbank, 
Jesse Mighel, Alvah Moulton, jSTathaniel Pease, Levi Hanneford, Gilmau L. 
Bennett, Samuel M. Bradbury, Sumner Gilman, Tristram Redman, Charles G. 
Parsons, Levi Moore and Thomas Drown. 

Of these several acquired distinction. Dr. Sweat having remained in Parsons- 
tield acquired great distinction as a surgeon. Dr. Smart settled in Kennebunk 
and was eminent in his profession. Dr. Mighel gained a high reputation in Minot 
and Portland, Me., and subsequently removed to Ohio, where he became con- 
nected with a medical institution. Dr. Moulton settled in Ossipee, N". H., in 
1821, and after a career of honorable and successful practice of forty-eight years, 
died there September 11, 1868. He was son of Mrs. Bradbury by her first hus- 
band. Dr. Pease settled in Bridgton, and repeatedly served in the Senate of the 
State, Dr. Parsons became a prominent physician in Windham. Dr. Redman 
was also a State Senator from the county of Washington. All are deceased save 
Dr. S. M. Bradbury, who resides in Limington. 

Dr. Bradbury was married in 1800 to Mrs. Ann Moulton, daughter of Dea. 
Samuel Moulton, and widow of Samuel Moulton, a nephew of her father. He 
died in 1835. Dr. Bradbury had by her three children, .James W., who settled in 
Augusta in 1830, in the profession of the law, and was a member of the United 
States Senate from 1847 to 1853; Samuel M., who is a physician in Limington, 
and Clarisa A., who married Dr. Parsons, and died at Windham, Dec. 5, 1850. 

Rev. and Dr. William Taylor 

moved into Parsonsfleld in the year 1800, making a purchase of land at the west- 
ern part, which yet remains in the Taylor family. He was born in Hampton in 
1761. Studied medicine with Dr. Levi Dearborn of ISTorth Hampton, and moved 
to Leavittstown, now Effingham, N. H., about 1785, where he resided until he 
removed to Parsonsfleld. He soon after sold his practice to 

Dr. David Weld Clark, 

who settled in town near the home of Thomas Parsons, the original proprietor. 
He was born in Sturbridge, Mass., March 20, 1779, and came to Parsonsfleld and 
established himself in practice in 1803, remaining until 1819, when he removed 
to Effingham, N. H., continuing in practice until near his death, which occurred 
October 24, 1846. He had an extensive practice, was a very skillful physician, 
going long distances, exposed to the summer suns and winter colds and storms, 
most of his life traveling on horseback, visiting the poor as readily as the rich. 



136 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

the fatigue and expenditure in many cases far outweighing the recompense. But 
his memory is sweet, and his many acts of kindness and generosity are remem- 
bered by grateful hearts. 

He was a sharp, wiry man, perceptions keen, judgment sound, a ready wit, and 
quick at repartee. Some years since an old friend of his related to me the fol- 
lowing anecdote as illustrating the man. He commenced practice, as did many 
of his time, Avithout graduating in medicine, and on one occasion, being called as 
a medical expert in a case on trial, the opposing counsel found his testimony very 
damaging, and determined upon a course to break its force. Therefore upon 
cross-examination, after asking a few preliminary questions, he demanded of him 
to state from what medical college he received his diploma. The doctor answered: 
" From no medical college, sir." The attorney then in a very dignified and com- 
manding tone said: "Tell me, then, by what authority you practice medicine?" 
Quick as thought Dr. Clark, turning his eyes and pointing upward, replied: " By 
the authority of the God of Heaven, sir." The answer greatly amused the court, 
the attorney was discomfited, and the jury favorably impressed. He reared a 
family of six children, only one of whom is now living, R. E. Clark, Esq., of 
Dover, N. H. I will not attempt to follow further the order in which others have 
followed, but write briefly of 

Moses Sweat, M. D., 

whose career was one of marked prominence as a physician, and especially as a 
surgeon, for a full half century. He was the eldest son of Jonathan and Sarah 
(Ayer) Sweat, and was born in Portland, Me., March 18, 1788. His occupation 
in early life was that of a mechanic, but he soon determined to study medicine. 
He was well educated, was blessed with a large stock of good, sound common 
sense, a pleasing address, was generous, kind and affectionate, with a modest, 
latent boldness that brooked no obstacle nor shrunk from the performance of any 
known duty. He studied medicine under the instruction of Dr. James Bradbury, 
and later was the student and intimate friend of Prof. Eamsey, being his demon- 
strator of anatomy at Dartmouth and Bowdoin colleges. Possessed of those 
requisites, " the eagle's eye, the lion's heart and the woman's hand," added to the 
qualities of mind and traits of character already alluded to, he soon won and 
retained the richly deserved name and fame of being one of the best surgeons in 
the State. He attended several courses of lectures from 1807 to 1810, when he 
commenced practice. He became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Soci- 
ety and received a diploma therefrom in 1817 — one from Bowdoin in 1823, one 
from Castleton, Vt., in 1840. To perform surgical operations at that period when 
anesthesia was unknown, required fortitude which never failed him. In fractures 
and dislocations he was an adept. In capital operations he had no superior. He 
rode long distances, and his life was one of incessant toil. In politics he was a 
Democrat of the old school, never aspiring greatly to political honors, yet he 












^^^^^^^ aJ^^A^^i^i^^ 



HON . MOSES SWEAT IVI . D . 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 37 

served in both branelies of the Legislature, and was for three years a member of 
the board of trustees of the Maine Insane Hospital. In religion he was a Free 
Baptist, uniting heartily with Rev. John Buzzell in establishing the first denom- 
inational school at Parsonsfield, and ever a true friend and benefactor of that 
institution of learning which has done so much for the name and fame of this 
grand old town. 

But at that period of his life, when its duties became burdensome, because of 
the weight of advancing years, came that crushing and paralyzing stroke which 
seemed too much to bear, rendering dark and drear the pathway of every mem- 
ber of the family, and especially so that of the father and mother, the death of 
his youngest son, Dr. John B. Sweat, who had been in practice with him for six 
years and from whom he expected support and comfort in his declining years. 
From this he never fully rallied. His hopes were crushed, his anticipations de- 
stroyed, and the sweets of remaining life rendered a cruel bitter. 

Dr. Sweat was married to Miss Eliza Wedgewood, daughter of Jesse Wedge- 
wood of Parsonsfield, in 1811. Seven children were the fruits of the union — two 
daughters and five sons. A son and daughter died in infancy, and a daughter a 
fifteen years of age, and four sons arrived to manhood and maturer years. Mrs. 
Sweat died in 1S60. He died August 25, 1865, aged 77 years. 

Dr. John D. Buzzell, 

eldest son of Rev. John Buzzell, was born in Middleton, N. H., January 14, 1798, 
and came to Parsonsfield with that heroic father about six weeks later. So near 
was his birth to the date of his father's residence in town, that he may well be 
called a native of Parsonsfield. In early life he learned the saddler's trade with 
Mr. Nicholas Dor, and married Deborah, daughter of John Dor, Jr., of Parsons- 
field, and grand-daughter of John Dor, who with his brother Gideon settled on the 
western border of the town in 1775. Some years after his marriage, having a 
natural inclination thereto, he gave his attention to medicine; and by aid of Dr. 
Moses Sweat and Drs. Briggs, Gilman and Merrill of Portland, he obtained a 
practical knowledge of the nature and symptoms of disease, and by close appli- 
cation and practice became quite celebrated in the treatment of chronic diseases. 
He resided at Cape Elizabeth, and died there in 1876, aged 78 years. 

Dr. Eleazer Burbank, 

son of Samuel B. and Esther (Boothby) Burbank, was born in Scarboro, Maine, 
September 17, 1793, and died at North Yarmouth, March 30, 1867. His father 
removed to Parsonsfield about 1805, and reared a family of twelve children. Dr. 
Burbank became a student under Dr. James Bradbury and attended lectures at 
Dartmouth College, making the journey of over one hundred miles on foot. In 
1818, he commenced practice at Poland, Maine, where he remained twenty years. 
Then in answer to an invitation from a committee of the citizens of North Yar- 



138 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

mouth, he removed thither where he remained until his death. In politics a Re- 
publican from the formation of the party, and State Senator in 1857-58. In 
religion a Congregationalist, holding the office of deacon from 1856 till his death. 
He was ever an open opposer of slavery, and an earnest advocate of temperance. 

Jesse Mighel, M. D., 

was a native of our town, of whom I can learn hut little. He was born as early 
as 1790 to '95. For some reason he was left so friendless that he became charge- 
able to the town in his early boyhood, but he was possessed of a good mind, was 
ambitious to obtain a good education, was a keen scholar, and despite of his early 
surroundings and the circumstances that opposed his rise and progress, he found 
friends to assist him, and prominent among them was Dr. Bradbury, with whom 
he studied medicine; won an enviable reputation in Minot, Maine, where he first 
settled, thence went to Portland, and later to Ohio, becoming professor in some 
mfedical college. 

Jesse Sweat, M. D., 

was another who rose from comparative obscurity. His privileges being poor for 
an education in his home, he came to Parsousfleld in 1826 at the age of fourteen 
years, and was kindly cared for in the family of Dr. Moses Sweat. He attended 
the district school and Effingham Academy, was an apt scholar and soon became 
a teacher of common schools in which avocation he was very successful. He 
applied himself to the study of medicine during his leisure, under that best of 
instructors. Dr. Moses Sweat, attended lectures at Bowdoin where he was demon- 
strator of anatomy, and graduated at that college in 1831. He soon after went 
to Brownfield where he remained in practice forty -seven years. He married Miss 
Eliza Spring of Hiram, sister of the late lamented Hon. Samuel Spring of Port- 
land, and they had four children, three of whom survive. Some years since he 
was thrown from his carriage, receiving injuries from which he never fully recov- 
ered. Failing health, loss of wife and fortune, induced him to remove a few 
years since to Minneapolis, where his eldest daughter resides. He died August, 
1885. Few practitioners of medicine and surgery have enjoyed the confidence of 
the populace to a greater extent than has Dr. Jesse Sweat. He was quite eccen- 
tric, rough in his exterior, never over-courteous toward members of the profes- 
sion, nor choice in his form of expression; yet to his friends kind, affectionate 
and generous. For a time he was surgeon in the army, and was absent from his 
home in the winter of 1850 to attend a course of lectures in New York; also 
absent a few times on visits to his daughter in the West, during his long career 
in Brownfield. He has one son, a practitioner of medicine, residing in Minne- 
apolis. 




'"■"'■r.. 





ALVAH MOULTON M.O. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 39 

Alvah Moultok, M. D., 
son of Samuel and Ann (Moulton) Moulton, and half-brother of Hon. James W. 
Bradbury of Augusta and Samuel M. Bradbury, M. D., of Limington; was a 
student of Dr. James Bradbury, his step-father, and Prof. Ramsey to whom 
reference has been made. He was born in Parsonsfield, October 11, 1798, and 
died September 11, 1868. In 1821, he married Miss Mary Dalton, daughter of 
Samuel Dalton of Parsonsfield, and removed to Ossipee, N. H., where he resided 
until his death. He was a man of high moral character, integrity and upright- 
ness, commanding the respect of all who knew him; a physician of large practice 
and a surgeon of fair repute. His wife was a woman, coming from one of the 
best families of the town, every way worthy the noble husband. They reared a 
family of twelve xihildren, six sons and six daughters, all arriving to manhood 
and womanhood. Eight yet survive — five daughters, all married to men of 
wealth and influence, and three sons, successful, or retired business men, worthy 
a noble ancestry. 

Dr. Moulton was ever active in all the moral reforms of the age ; an energetic 
promoter of temperance, an ardent supporter of religious institutions, an active 
member of the church, given to hospitality, generous, and courteous to all. To 
his profession he gave his best efforts, and to his professional brethren his 
warmest sympathies, ever treating them with deference and politeness. His 
presence in the household where sickness and sorrow prevailed was helpful and 
gave a sense of relief, and his countenance ever beaming with gratitude and 
affection was a benediction. 

Burleigh Smart, M. D. 

Among those early to pursue the study of medicine in this town was Burleigh 
Smart. He was born about 1796, and was educated in the common schools and 
Effingham Academy. After following the vocation of teaching for a time, he 
studied medicine with Dr. James Bradbury, and removed to Kennebunk where 
he became eminent in his profession. 

Emery Smart, M. D., 

was a brother some ten years younger, — studied with Dr. Burleigh — and settled 
in the same town and there died. 
I am unable to learn more in detail of these physicians. 

Nathaniel Pease, M. D., 
son of Asa Pease, was born in this town in 1800, and died in Bridgton in 1867. 
He was twice married, his first wife being Martha Poor Parsons, daughter of Col. 
Joseph Parsons, and grand-daughter of Thomas, the proprietor of the town. She 
lived but a few years, dying January 14, 18.32, at the age of twentj^-seven years. 
He studied medicine with Dr. James Bradbury, and resided most of his profes- 



140 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

sional life in Bridgton, where his reputation was well established. He was well 
and widely known as a physician of skill and sagacity. He was also extensively 
known as a politician, being among the early advocates of freedom for the slave, 
when to take that position brought forth determined opposition, aroused bitter 
animosities and subjected its advocates to censure, contumely and abuse. But 
he always stood firm to his convictions of duty and steadfast the champion of 
humanity, being among the foremost in the cause of anti-slavery in the northern 
portion of Cumberland county. He had the satisfaction of living to see the 
shackles broken, and the curse of slavery blotted from this nation. 

Dr. Moses Hobbs 

was the son of Col. David and Judith (Jenness) Hobbs of this town. He studied 
medicine with Dr. Moses Sweat and commenced practice at "West ^N'ewfield, Me., 
about 1828, in company with Dr. Marston, who had previously married his sister. 
Here he remained about one year and then removed to ISTorth Hampton, where 
the remainder of his long life was spent, dying May 23, 1885, at the age of 84 
years 10 months and 23 days. He was a good practitioner, an upright citizen and 
a successful business man. 

Dr. Theopilus Doe, 
one of the natives of Parsonsfield, of whom I can learn but little, was born about 
1795; studied medicine with Dr. Colby of Ossipee, N. H., practiced medicine for 
a time at Quebec, and later was settled at Deer Isle. He was very successful as 
a financier, and said to have been as a physician. He has one daughter now 
living, a resident of Augusta, Maine. 

Levi A. Hannefobd, M. D., 

was the son of Josiah and Nancy Doe Hanneford, born March 25, 1803, and 
died March, 1879. He was the student of Dr. James Bradbury, and Dr. Little 
of New Gloucester, and graduated at Brown University, Providence, E. I., in 
September, 1825. He commenced practice in Hiram, Maine, and remained there 
till 1836, being elected to the Legislature from that town in 1834. Leaving there 
he removed to Alfred where he tarried one year, thence to Trivoli, Illinois, where 
he remained until his death. In 1829 he married Miss Caroline W. Collins of 
Windham, Maine, who, with a son and daughter, still survives. In 1843 and 
again in 1845 he represented his town in the Legislature. Failing health caused 
him to retire from active practice in 1857, save as consulting physician. He was 
keenly sympathetic, given to benevolence and hospitality, and beloved and hon- 
ored as a citizen and friend. 

Dr. Daniel "Wadleigh, 
who was the son of Elisha and Sally (Smith) Wadleigh, was a native of this 
town, born November 11, 1799, studied medicine with Dr. Moses Sweat, and 




"'i'ii/Xliv 



'"'•f, 




Hon. G.L.BENNETT. M.D. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. I4I 

commenced practice at East Parsonsfield about 1824. A few years later he 
removed to Penobscot county, where he was located in several of the towns of 
said county, dying at Brewer in 1868. He was a good student, quite successful 
as a practitioner, a man of generous impulses, and a ready wit. Of a family of 
six children but on^ remains, Mrs. Helen Brackett of Cambridgeport. 

GiLMAN LOUGEE BENNETT, M. D., 

was born in Parsonsfield December 13, 1805. Studied medicine with Dr. James 
Bradbury, and later with Dr. Little of Portland, graduated at Bowdoin in 1827 
and commenced practice in Middleton, N". H., where he remained until 1833, 
when he returned to his native town and continued a resident thereof until his 
death. He was a man of rare ability, high mental and moral culture, a close 
student, a keen observer, a discreet counsellor, an excellent physician, a success- 
ful financier, a ready writer, an easy speaker, a true friend, an honored towns- 
man, and a worthy and beloved husband and father. In his intercourse with 
physicians he was always dignified, yet courteous, decided, yet magnanimous, 
determined, yet tolerant. He wisely discriminated between what should be con- 
cealed and what revealed, and therefore his counsel was often sought in the ad- 
justment of such difficulties as arise in families and communities. His well- 
known carefulness and circumspection in the management of his own business 
affairs, rendered him the recipient of the trusts of many others, and through a 
long and eventful public and professional life he enjoyed what is vouchsafed to 
the few, an unsullied reputation, — not a breath of suspicion ever marring his 
integrity, or the faintest shadow falling upon the purity of his character. 

In politics a Democrat, and an acknowledged leader, being elected to the Leg- 
islature as early as 1838, where he served for three sessions; afterwards he was 
State Senator for two years, then for several years County Treasurer, and was a 
member of the Board of Trustees of Maine Insane Hospital for nine years. He 
was one who always honored the place and the position. In religious faith he 
was a Universalist, adopting as his own the beautiful words of the beloved 
Whittier. 

" All souls are Thine; the wings of morning bear 
None from that Presence which is everywhere. 
Nor hell itself can hide, for Thou art there. 

Through sins of sense, perversities of will. 

Through doubt and pain, through guilt and shame and ill, 

Thy pitying eye is on Thy children still." 

He was married soon after graduating in medicine to Miss Hannah Merrill of 
Parsonsfield, and died December 10, 1872. Mrs. Bennett survived him but a few 
years. Their only child, an estimable and accomplished lady, Mrs. Susan M. 
Oakes, resides at South Berwick, Maine. 



142 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Cyrus Blaisdell, M. D., 

a graduate of Dartmouth College in the class of 1835, was the son of Simeon 
Blaisdell of Parsonsfield, and a student of Dr. Moses Sweat. He practiced med- 
icine in Wolfboro, N. H., from 1838 to 1844, then he went to ISTewfleld, Maine, 
where he resided some two years, then returned to Wolfboro where he died about 
1850, aged 46 years. He was a very thorough student and his memory was re- 
markably retentive, being able to repeat verbatim much of the contents of the 
text books. He has a son. 

Irvan Blaisdell, M. D., 

who studied medicine with Dr. Moses Sweat, graduated at Bellivue Medical Col- 
lege, New York, and now resides at Millmore, Penn. He has an extensive prac- 
tice and is very successful. 

Samuel Bradbury, M. D., 

second son of Dr. James Bradbury, was born August 22, 1805. Studied medicine 
with his father, graduated at Bowdoin in 1831, and commenced practice in Lim- 
ington where he yet (1887) resides and attends to the active duties of the profes- 
sion. After the lapse of more than half a century of active practice his mental 
and physical powers remain good. He has ever been a conservative and success- 
ful practitioner, honored by his townsmen and respected by his associates. 

Dr. Levi C. Moore 

was the second son of Harvey Moore, Esq., of Parsonsfield, and pursued the 
study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Bradbury, and Drs. Wilkinson 
and Clark of Effingham, N. H., and in 1830 went into practice in Patten, Canada. 
He soon after moved to North Troy, Vt., close to the Canada line, and there 
remained in active practice until his death (with the exception of two years spent 
in California), which occurred October 17, 1882. He was a quiet, pleasant, hos- 
pitable, busy man, who enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the community in 
which he was known. He had two brothers who followed the same profession, 
John and James Otis. 

John Moore, M. D., 

was the fifth son of Harvey, and was born September 5, 1814. From a sketch 
prepared for publication by her who was his estimable wife I take the following 
facts and expressions relative to his career: " In boyhood he had the advantages 
of the common school and the New England Academy. In early manhood he 
engaged in various occupations, teaching, surveying, farming, etc. An enthusi- 
astic lover of music, he took a course of lessons under Dr. Lowell Mason of 
Boston, and for several winters taught vocal classes in Parsonsfield and vicinity, 
doing much to elevate the standard and taste of music. He removed in 1866 to 
La Salle county, Illinois, and later entered Hahneman Medical College in Chicago, 



^. 



^^^ 




' M'r 




««• «!*./<.« «f.i,^, 




({y, ^JXy^^-yi^^ 



VIES OTIS MOORE. M.D. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 43 

receiving his diploma in 1861. He removed to Kankakee, Illinois, in 1866, and 
in 1871 to Quincy. He was introduced and recommended to the people of Quincy 
and Adams county by a leading medical journal as ' one of the best prescribers 
in the State of Illinois.' He achieved the most gratifying success in practice, 
having the full confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He was married 
December 14, 1852. to Mrs. Elizabeth W. Bourne, widow of A. J. Bourne of 
Boston, and daughter of Capt. Luther Emerson of Parsonsfield, who bore him 
four children, William L., Hattie H., John H. and Harvey E. Only two survive 
him, — John dying in infancy, and Hattie on January 20, 1880, aged 23 years. His 
step-daughter, Emma F. Bourne, is the wife of Rev. A. E. Arnold of Stillman 
Valley, Illinois. Dr. Moore died in Quincy, March 22, 1880, in the 66th year of 
his age." 

James Otis Moore, M. D., 

was the youngest member of the family of Capt. Harvey Moore, being born 
April 20, 1822. He studied medicine with Dr. G. L. Bennett, and graduated at 
Castleton, Vt., in the autumn of 1848. His attention having been turned to 
homoeopathy, he studied that system under the instruction of Dr. Levi C. Moore 
of North Troy, Yt., and in 1849 established himself in Saco, Maine, where he 
had an extensive practice. In 1863 he was appointed assistant-surgeon of the 
Twenty-Second Regiment of United States colored troops, and was ordered to 
Fortress Monroe under General Butler. Later he was appointed to take charge 
of the First Regiment United States colored troops, with which he was in battle 
before Richmond and at the storming of Fort Fisher. Being ordered back to his 
old regiment they repaired to Washington to represent the colored troops in the 
procession at the funeral of President Lincoln, and then assisted in the pursuit of 
Booth. They were then ordered to Texas, and in October, 1863 were discharged, 
when Dr. Moore returned home. One year later he removed to Haverhill, Mass., 
where he continued a successful practitioner of medicine and surgery until his 
death, in the autumn of 1886. He served the city in various capacities, and was 
for a term of time City Physician. He was a good student and an earnest, honest, 
genial man, enjoying the confidence and respect of all his associates. In 1852 
he married Miss Mary Elizabeth Ross of Gilmanton, N^. H., by whom he had four 
children, three daughters and a son, the latter a physician now residing in Brook- 
line, Mass. 

Silas B. Wedgewood, M. D., 

son of Capt. Jesse and Catharine (Paine) Wedgewood, was a student under Dr. 
Moses Sweat, and a graduate from Bowdoin in 1839. Commenced practice in 
Springvale, Maine, then removed to Great Falls, N. H., where he practiced until 
failing health obliged him to abandon business, when he returned to his native 
town and died in 1842, aged 28 years. He was ambitious and successful. 



144 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Sttmnek Gilman, M. D., 

studied medicine with Dr. James Bradbury, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1833. 
He located at Wakefield where he practiced until his death in 1841. In early life 
he taught school to some extent, and was quite successful in his professional 
career, — though he was rather peculiar, careless in his style and phraseology, and 
eccentric in his habits. He was the son of Daniel and Mary (Hobbs) Gilman, 
and was born in Parsonstield, March 7, 1800. 

Woodbury Gilman, M. D., 

was brother of the above, twenty-two years his junior, and was a superior scholar 
and close student. He studied medicine with Dr. Asahel Dearborn of Effing- 
ham, N. H., and graduated at Dartmouth in 1845. He commenced practice in 
Kittery, Maine, a few years later went to Epping, N. H. , and thence to Buffalo, 
New York, where he died December 7, 1876, aged 54 years. He left one child, 
a daughter. He accumulated a large property. 

Moses E. Sweat, A. M., M. D., 

second son of Dr. Moses and Eliza (Wedgewood) Sweat, was born January 12, 
1861. See sketch by Dr. Joseph Bicker, page 63. 

Moses M. Smart, A. M., M. D., 

eldest son of Gardiner and Sally Mighel Smart, was born May, 1812, and died 
Oct. 2, 1885, aged 73 years. See sketch of his life by Dr. Joseph Bicker, p. 62. 

Tristram Bedman, M. D., 

son of Tristram and Hannah (Burbank) Bedman, born in Saco, June 15, 1807. 
Studied medicine with Dr. Bradbury and graduated at Dartmouth in 1831. He 
commenced practice in Cherryfield, and was very successful. He was an early 
advocate of temperance, and freedom for the enslaved, and was twice elected to 
the State Senate. He was married soon after he became established in business, 
to Miss Freeman, and died April, 1861, aged 55 years. 

Alva Parker, M. D., 

was born in Parsonstield in 1811. Studied medicine with Dr. Moses Sweat, and 
graduated at Bowdoin in 1835. Soon after he commenced practice at Lebanon, 
Maine, where he remained twelve years. Thence he removed to Great Falls, 
N. H., where he died in 1851. 

Charles G. Parsons, M. D., 

was the son of Col. Joseph Parsons, and was born February 15, 1807. He was a 
student of medicine under Dr. James Bradbury, whose daughter he married, and 
graduated at Bowdoin in 1837. He then moved to Windham and commenced 








Chas.G .Parsons, m.o. 



'^^ 




i 



"'"iR^ 



" soynn 



JOSEPH ADDISON PARSONS M.D. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. I45 

practice, but soon abandoned it, in a great measure, and sought other emploj'- 
meuts. In 1852 and 1853, he made an extensive tour in the Southern States, and 
collected many facts relative to the institution of slaver}', which served as a basis 
of a series of lectures which he delivered in several of the New England States. 
He was among the very first to give the " true inwardness " of that abominable 
institution that so long cursed this land, and that found so many advocates among 
the Democracy of the North. He was also an open, earnest and able advocate 
of temperance, being active in the formation of the first temperance societj' in 
Parsonsfield; an easy writer and a pleasant speaker, a man of keen sympathies, 
quick perceptions, generous impulses, extremely hospitable, and of vitalizing 
enthusiasm. 

In 1855, he wrote a work entitled "Inside Yiew of Slavery, or a Tour Among 
the Planters," with an introduction by Mrs. H. B. Stowe, in which he gave a 
thrilling account of what he observed while traveling the few years previous in 
the South. In 1864 he received an appointment under Lincoln, as United States 
Consul to Trinidad, but was obliged to decline the position in consequence of 
failing health. Mrs. Parsons died, and after a time he married Miss Alice J. 
Walker of Portsmouth, a person of much literary taste and talent, and one in 
whom he found an agreeable, helpful and devoted companion, who yet survives. 

Joseph Addison Parsons, M. D., 

brother of Charles G., one of a family of sixteen children, who died in "Wind- 
ham in the winter of 1886, had been in the profession forty-eight years. He was 
born June 30, 1815, and was a student at the same time and graduated in the 
same class with Charles. His long professional career was passed in Windham, 
where his friendships were firm and abiding. He was far more conservative than 
his brother, yet ever on the side of humanity, justice and progress, — generous to 
a fault, kind to the poor, and full of sympathy for those in need, and a practi- 
tioner of decision, ability and skill. Past the meridian of life he married Miss 
Mary E. Ginn of Winterport, Maine, an estimable lady who survives him. 
Neither of these brothers left issue. 

James M. Buzzell, M. D., 

the seventh son of Rev. John and Anna Buzzell, was born in Parsonsfield, Nov. 
4, 1812, attended school at Limerick, Effingham, N. H., and Parsonsfield Semin- 
ary, completing his preparatory course for college at the latter institution under 
Rev. Hosea Quinby. Commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Moses Sweat 
in 1833, attended a course of lectures at Bowdoin in 1834, where he was assistant 
demonstrator of anatomy. In 1835 he attended a second course at Dartmouth 
where he was demonstrator, and at that time carved a model of the sphenoid 
bone (the most irregular bone in the system), five times the natural size. It was 
formed from a block of bass plank glued together, which Prof. Muzzey pro- 
10 



146 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

nounced to be a " perfect model of the sphenoid bone," and which Prof. Muzzey 
took with him to the medical college of Cincinnati, where it now remains. He 
graduated from Dartmouth College in 1837. Soon after he located for a short 
time at Standish Corner, Maine, then removed to Little Falls, Gorham, and 
remained there till 1843. He then became connected with and publisher of the 
r. "Vy. Baptist Repository, and soon removed to Limerick, where he continued as 
editor, publisher and physician till 1852. From this district he was chosen to the 
Legislature in 1851 and 1852, at the time the Maine Law was passed; was a mem- 
ber of the committee that reported it. 

In 1852 he removed to Portland where he remained till 1856. In 1848 he was 
elected Professor of anatomy and surgery in the medical school at Worcester, 
Mass., where he lectured two terms. In 1856 he was elected Professor of Surgery 
in the Penn College at Philadelphia, where he lectured two terms. He practiced 
four years at Springfield, Mass., where he successfully removed the parotid gland 
after it had grown to the size of a man's head, ligating the primitive carotid. 
In 1871 he lectured at the Kinth street Medical College in Philadelphia upon 
anatomy, and the three years following at Pennsylvania Medical University upon 
surgery. His life has been a very busy one, and now at the age of seventy-five, 
he is in active practice in Portland, Maine. 

Dr. Aaron Buzzell, 

an elder brother, studied medicine in Deerfield, N. H., with Drs. Graves and 
Broadhead, attended lectures at Dartmouth, and after a short term of practice in 
Strafford, N". H., removed to I^orfolkborough, Va., where he died aged about 45 
years. He left a son, James Andrew Buzzell, who was surgeon of the Third 
iSTew Hampshire regiment, and won honor and distinction, dying from fever in- 
duced b}^ hardships, exposure and labor as medical director, and care of prisoners 
from the pens of Andersonville and Libby. 

William Wedgwood Sweat, M. D., 

son of Moses and Eliza (Wedgwood) Sweat, prepared for college at Limerick and 
Parsonsfield Seminaries. Studied medicine with his father, attended two courses 
of lectures at Bowdoin and one at Castleton, Vt., where he graduated in 1845. 
He afterwards took a special course at New York College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons, and thus thoroughly equipped he commenced practice in his native town 
where he remained but a short time. He then went to New Bedford, Mass., 
where he practiced some five years. He then removed to Portland, Maine, where 
he remained ten years; thence to Mattapoisett, Mass., where he died July 12, 
1872, aged 52 years. He was very sagacious, full of commiseration for the ills 
and afflictions of others, and bounteous in his liberality. He married Miss Sarah 
Meigs of New Bedford, and there is one son, William, now a resident of Portland. 




^.l'"***"" 




'^'^-^—C-**.-^^ 



Wm .W. SWEAT. W.D. 





JOHN , B . SWEAT . M.D. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 47 

John Buzzell Sweat, M. D., 

youngest brother of the above, was born July 26, 1826. His preparatory educa- 
tion was obtained at Parsonsfield Seminary. After pursuing the study of medi- 
cine with his father for a time, he attended lectures at Castleton, Yt. , one course 
at Bowdoin and two at New York, where he graduated in 1849. He was genial, 
eminently social, generous, magnanimous, full of sympathy, of jollity and mirth, 
witty and entertaining, symmetrical and grand in form and feature, with a pleas- 
ing address, and giving promise of a career of great usefulness. At once after 
graduating he commenced practice of his profession with his father, continuing 
therein until 1855, when, in company with his brother, Hon. L. D. M. Sweat, he 
went abroad, where he spent nearly a year visiting the various important hospi- 
tals of the older countries. He was elected twice to the Legislature, and in the 
autumn of 1856, crowded with professional duties, he contracted typhoid fever, 
of which he died November 21st, aged 30 years, missed and mourned as has been 
none other of this town in earlier or later time. The high rank in surgery which 
was attained by the father was ever held by the three sons who followed the pro- 
fession, Moses E., William W. and John B. The two latter were by nature richly 
endowed, and by education and training thoroughly prepared for the practice of 
this important branch, in which they excelled. 

Dr. Thomas Ayer Drown 

was the son of Thomas and Mitty (Wiggin) Drown, and was born Nov. 2.3, 1813. 
He was the second child, and they were left to the care of the mother, as the 
father died previous to the birth of Thomas. Adverse circumstances attended 
him in his early life, but as early as 1835 he entered the office of Dr. James Brad- 
bury as a student. He practiced in several places, not always meeting with de- 
sired success, and died in 1886, aged 73 years. 

Samuel M. Smith, M. D., 

was the son of James and Betsey Smith, and was born in Parsonsfield, January 
23, J.812. Studied medicine with Dr. Moses Sweat and graduated at Bowdoin in 
1835. He taught school in Belfast, Prospect and neighboring towns to earn 
money to defray the expenses incurred. Soon after graduating he commenced 
practice in Charleston, and in April of 1836 was married by Kev. Silas M. Keen 
of Searsport, to Miss Mary E. Nickersou of Chatham, Mass. Then he removed 
to Sullivan, where he remained but a few months, then went to Cooper, after- 
wards incorporated as Meddybemps. Here he remained a series of years, enjoying 
the confidence of the community, having a large practice, much interested in all 
the reforms of the day, lecturing on temperance, opposing with his might the 
advance of slavery, and was actively engaged in religious work, building a church 
entirely at his own expense for the Baptist denomination, being a deacon of a 



148 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

church of that body of Christians for many years and always paying very liberally 
for the support of the ministry. 

In 1854 he moved to Baring and continued in active practice until 1866, when 
his health failing he moved to Minneapolis, but the change of climate not bring- 
ing the desired relief, he returned to Baring where he died September 28, 1868. 
His family consisted of thirteen children, only four of whom are now living, one 
daughter the wife of A. B. Getchell, Esq., of Baring, and three sons, the eldest 
E. T. N. Smith, a druggist in Silver City, Idaho, the other two ph3^sicians, one 
residing in Baring, Dr. J, R. N. Smith, and the other A. N. Smith, in Dover, 
1^6 w Hampshire. 

Amzi Sanborn, M. D., 

youngest child of John and Hannah (Bachelder) Sanborn, was born in Parsons- 
field on the first day of the week, of the month and of the year 1809. He studied 
medicine in N'ew York with Dr. Wooster Beach, the author of " Beach's House- 
hold Physician," and graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1832. 
He soon after returned to his home, where he tarried but a short time, and then 
commenced practice in Chesterville. In September, 1836, he married Miss Julia A. 
Pierce of that town. His health was never firm, and in 1836 he went to Bucyrus, 
Ohio, tarrying for a season, and then traveled through much of the western 
country with his family in his own carriage. His health improving he returned 
East, and settled in West Dedham, Mass., where he practiced for several years, but 
finally returned to Maine, to the town of Phillips, where he died of consumption, 
January 12, 1861, aged fifty-two years and eleven days, and was buried in Chester- 
ville by the side of the remains of his first wife who died November 13, 1852. 
His second marriage was to Miss Mary Wheeler of Phillips, December 6, 1855, 
who is now living. By the first marriage there were six children, two of whom 
are living, the eldest, Mrs. Ellen (Sanborn), wife of Dr. F. M. Everleth of Wal- 
doboro, and Edward W. Sanborn of Benicia, Cal. There were two children by 
the second marriage, one dying in infancy and the other a daughter, now the wife 
of A. M. Greenwood of Phillips, Maine. Dr. Sanborn was a man of keen per- 
ceptions, discriminating, cautious and correct in his judgment, was thoroughly 
prepared for the duties of the profession, possessed a good knowledge of human 
nature, was active and energetic, a close observer and a shrewd financier. In 
his religious views he was a Universalist and in politics a Democrat. 

His professional life, although suffering from disease for many years, was emi- 
nently successful, being held in high esteem not only by those of the communi- 
ties where he resided, but by the members of the profession as well. 

C. F. BONNEY, M. D., 

who died in Manchester, N. H., in 1886, at the age of sixty-eight years, was from 
1847 to 1852 in practice in Parsonsfield. He then removed to Cornish, where he 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. I49 

remained twenty years, thence to Manchester,!^. H., where the remainder of his 
professional life was passed. He was a native of Winthrop, Maine, and was born 
April 9, 1818. At the age of fourteen years he went to Boston and obtained em- 
ployment in an apothecary store. Ten years later he went to New York and served 
for four years as hospital steward. In the fall and winter of 1843-'44 he attended 
lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and in 1844 received license 
from the New York Medical Society to practice medicine. He graduated in 1846 
from the same college. He was twice married, his second wife, who survives him, 
being sister of Hon. P. C. Chenery, United States Senator from New Hampshire. 
Dr. Bonney was an acute observer, a shrewd financier, an honored success in the 
profession, and a man highly honored and respected. 

Dr. N. K. Martin, 

of Saccarappa, practiced medicine in this town from 1852 to 1856, since which 
time he has occupied his present field. He was born in Portsmouth, N. H., 
March 28, 1820. Studied medicine with Drs. Nathaniel Brooks and Ebenezer B. 
Bangs of Saco, and received a diploma from Worcester Medical College in 1851. 
In 1847 he married Miss Eliza Bangs of Limerick, Maine. 

Charles Lougee, M. D., 

born in Parsonsfield, October 23, 1813, son of Capt. John and Anna (Parsons) 
Lougee, studied medicine with Dr. Ham of Newf eld, and graduated at Bow- 
doin in 1837. He practiced a few months at Dunstan Corner. His health failed 
early and he died of consumption. May 13, 1838, and was buried near his old 
home in Parsonsfield. His wife, the daughter of Noah Burnham, Esq., of this 
town, survived him but a short time. 

Dr. Moses S. "Wilson, 

now, and for many years past at Lincoln, Maine, was a native of Parsonsfield, 
and son of Moses Wilson. In his early manhood he was a school teacher of 
good repute. He has been in continuous practice of his profession for more than 
forty years. Although modest and retiring he has made life a success. 

Joseph Huntress, M. D., 

who died a few years since at Sandwich, N. H., was a native of this town, and 
graduated at Dartmouth in the class of 1844. He first settled in Yarmouth where 
he remained a few years. For a time he served in the army, and was in Law- 
rence, Mass., for a time, and then in Sandwich until his death. 

EiCHARD Lord, M. D., 

now in the shoe business in Haverhill, Mass., studied medicine with Dr. G. L. 
Bennett and graduated at Castleton, Vt. After receiving his diploma he went 



150 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

to Sangerville, Maine, and practiced a few months. He then gave up the prac- 
tice of medicine, went to Saco and studied dentistry, which he practiced for a 
few years, but finally went to Haverhill and engaged in the business he now 
follows. He was the son of Dea. John Lord and younger brother of the late C. 
B. Lord of Alfred, and was possessed of much natural talent and aptitude. 

Simeon Mudgett, M. D., 

son of David and Salome (Merrill) Mudgett, was born February 22, 1819. He 
was a student of medicine under Dr. G. L. Bennett, and graduated at Castleton, 
Vermont, in 1846. In 1847 he commenced practice in Bartlett, N. H., where he 
remained about two years, and then went to Sangerville, Maine, and practiced 
there and at Guilford until 1870, when he removed to Dexter where he has since 
resided. In 1851 he married Miss Hannah S. Demming of Guilford, and they 
have four children, three sons and a daughter. His eldest son is one of the pub- 
lishers of the Bangor Commercial. Modest and retiring he brings to his profes- 
sional work a clear intellect, a calm reason, and an honesty of purpose which 
have commanded the respect and confidence of the communities in which his life 
has thus far been passed. He is closely devoted to his profession, and has a large 
and quite lucrative practice. 

Oscar Burbakk, M. D., 

of Waverley, Iowa, who has been in practice about forty years, was a native of 
this town. Two years since, when preparing for the Centennial celebration of 
Parsonsfield, I took occasion to look up the physicians to whom she had given 
birth, and addressed a letter of enquiry to him, to which I received the following 
reply. Although it was not written for publication, it contains matter descrip- 
tive of the man. It is as follows: 

Dear Doctor: — Your kind, interrogatory note was duly received. I thank 
you for the invitation to be present at the Centennial celebration. In reply to the 
main question in your note, I will say that on September 25, 1819, in a very early 
period of my life, my visible existence commenced, but whence or whither is 
still unsolved. Struggling through the vicissitudes of infantile life, with wind- 
colic, measles, chicken-pox and vaccination (I was never baptized), I found my- 
self attending the high school at the Middle Road, which, with three subsequent 
terms at the academy, where we spoke " On Linden when the sun was low," con- 
stituted my literary education. Like Topsy, I grew up, with advice in abund- 
ance and cash in perspective. I taught school, learned a trade, and one day 
found myself pursuing the study of medicine in Boston, where on March 4,1848, 
I was granted the degree of Doctor of Medicine at Harvard. I commenced prac- 
tice in Lowell, Mass. In 1849 I went to California, and on September 8, 1854, 
with my wife and two-year-old daughter came to Waverly, Iowa, where I have 
resided ever since. Professionally I have had a fair share of the public confi- 
dence, and it has been my fortune to do the greater part of the important surgi- 
cal operations in this region. Financially I do not regard myself a success, but 
have accumulated a fair competence. 

Fraternally yours, 

Oscar Burbank. 






..^.<Ji.i 




,,!»'' 



SAMUEL KNAPPTOWLE, M.D. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. I5I 

Samuel Knapp Towle, M. D., 

son of Harvey Moore Towle and Clarissa (Knapp) Towle, was born in Parsons- 
field in 1829; was educated in the common schools and Parsonsfield Seminary, 
and was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Penn., in 
1858. He at once settled in Haverhill, Mass., and has continued practice there 
excepting when absent in the service of the government. In 1862 he was mar- 
ried to Isadore Noyes of Haverhill. During the late civil war he was surgeon of 
the Thirtieth Massachusetts Volunteers, and during much of his service was in 
charge of large field and general hospitals in Louisiana and Virginia. 

I am pleased to make the following extract from a letter written by Medical In- 
spector Stipp of the United States army, relative to the services and eminent 
standing of Dr. Towle. Speaking of the United States General Hospital Asylum 
building, Baton Rouge, La., which was under his charge, he says: " This hospital 
contained some five hundred beds,* and was frequently full of sick and wounded 
soldiers, especially of wounded soldiers, after the battles of Baton Eouge and 
Port Hudson, and later from the Red River expedition in May, 1864, under Major- 
General N. P. Banks. The high character for skill, as a physician and surgeon, 
was most faithfully maintained by the success of his operations and the large 
number restored to duty under his management. As an executive otRcer few if 
any can claim superiority. He was esteemed by his associates and loved by the 
inmates under his care, and appreciated by the ofiicers of the army, as a faithful, 
skillful, kind, watchful officer and gentleman. In all my tours of inspection, 
north and south, I found no hospital more carefully and properly managed, both 
as to the comforts of the inmates, character and skill in every department, and 
to the best interests of the government." Such is the testimony of one who 
knew and appreciated his worth. 

In 1873-74, he spent the larger part of a year in Europe in professional studies, 
mostly at Vienna, but partly at Paris and London. During a second visit abroad 
in 1880, accompanied by Mrs. Towle, he incurred in England a severe jDneumonia, 
from the effects of which he did not fully recover until after removal to a milder 
climate near Fort Monroe, Va., where he is yet on duty as surgeon of the Na- 
tional Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. This he considers temporary, and 
retains his home in Haverhill, Mass., where his many warm friends assure him 
of a cordial welcome socially and professionally on his return. His half-brother, 

Melvin Cox Towle, A. M., M. D., 

was a man possessed of superior qualities of head and hfeart, as was evidenced 
in his short professional career. A brief but well deserved tribute to his memory 
is paid by Dr. Joseph Ricker in his paper on College Graduates, page 68. 

* There were over nine hundred beds. 



152 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

David Watson, M. D., 

practiced medicine in Parsonsfleld for a time. He was a native of Limerick, 
Maine, and son of David Watson, late of that town. He studied medicine with 
Dr. William Swasey of Limerick, attended lectures at Bowdoin in 1857, and then 
became a student of Professor E. R. Peasley and was his assistant in surgery 
during his second term at Bowdoin; was demonstrator of anatomy at Dartmouth 
one term and attended his fourth term of lectures at N'ew York University Med- 
ical College, graduating there in 1860. He then practiced about two years in this 
town, and in the spring of 1863 entered the United States navy, resigning in 
1865. He then went to Conway, N. H., where he remained till 1868, then to New 
York city where he tarried five years; thence to Bryant's Pond, Maine, where he 
practiced two years, and in 1875 removed again to Conway, N. H., where he now 
resides. 

John T. Wedgwood, M. D., 

of Cornish, Maine, was the son of Captain Jesse and Catherine (Paine) Wedg- 
wood, and was born April 17, 1832. He devoted much time to music, teaching 
vocal classes for a series of years, having, in addition to a natural talent therefor, 
been under the instruction of E. Bruce, Esq., of Boston, and also a member of 
the musical societies of Boston, conducted by Carl Zerhann, for some three yeai'S. 
He studied medicine with Dr. Moses Sweat, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1861. 
The winter following he attended a course of lectures at Harvard, and in May, 
1862, commenced practice at Limington. Here he remained five years, when he 
removed to CorniBh where he now resides. In January, 1862, he married Miss 
Ruth P., daughter of Dr. Calvin Topliff of Freedom, X. H., by whom he has 
two daughters, both possessed of fine musical talents. Mrs. Wedgwood died in 
1880, and in October, 1882, Dr. Wedgwood niarried Miss Fannie E. Bowers of 
Baldwin. He is a wonderfully energetic and active business man, closely devoted 
to his profession, and a successful financier. 

Paul Merrill, M. D., 

was the son of Henry and Rebecca (Merrill) Merrill, and was born in Parsons- 
field, April 23, 1832. Studied medicine with Dr. G. L. Bennett, and graduated 
at Dartmouth in 1856. He then obtained the position of assistant physician at 
the Maine Insane Hospital, remaining there three years. Thence he went to 
Vassalboro' where he practiced about one year, then came to Parsonsfield where 
he remained three years, then to Augusta where he tarried seven years, then 
again to this town, where he died February 7, 1870. He was married to Miss Re- 
becca Medora Lee of Vassalboro', on September 14, 1868, who survived him less 
than two years. They had two children, both sons, one a resident of Parsons- 
field and one in Augusta. Dr. Merrill was well educated and thoroughly pre- 
pared for the duties of the profession. 



;^i«i?:^ ii^V. 




Prof. Samuel H. Durgin. M,D. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 53 

Isaiah F. Pray, A. M., M. D., 

son of Jacob S. and Arseueth (Estes) Pray, was born December 11, 1845, and is 
now in successful practice in New York city. See sketch by Dr. Joseph Ricker, 
page 68. 

Prof. Samuel Holmes Durgin, M. D., 

of Boston, Mass., was born in Parsonsfield, Maine, July 26, 1839, of Scotch- 
English ancestry. He was educated at Parsonsfield, and at Pittsfield and New 
Hampton, N. H., Academies, and pursued his medical studies at the Dartmouth 
and Harvard Medical Colleges, graduating from the latter in July, 1864. He was 
at once commissioned assistant surgeon in the First Massachusetts Cavalry, join- 
ing the regiment then in front of Richmond, Va., and served until mustered out 
with the regiment in June, 1865. He was detailed to serve in the First Division 
Field Hospital, was appointed to the operating board on the last campaign, and 
was present at General Lee's surrender at Appomattox. On retiring from the 
army he settled in practice in Boston. In January, 1867, he was elected resident 
physician to the city institutions at Deer Isle, and port physician for the port of 
Boston. He resigned these offices in January, 1873, to accept an appointment a 
Health Commissioner in the first board of health organized in Boston, and to 
re-enter general practice. He has held this office fourteen years, been chairman 
of the board for the last nine years, and was recently re-appointed for the sixth 
term ending in 1890. When the chair of Hygiene was created at Harvard he was 
called to the professorship, which position he still retains. He is a member of 
the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Boston Society for Medical Observation, 
the Boston Society for Medical Improvement, the American Public Health Asso- 
ciation, and an officer in several business organizations. 

In iSTovember, 1875, he married Miss Mary B., daughter of George F. Davis, 
Esq., of New Bedford, Mass., and has two children, Laura Jeannette and Ed- 
mund Horace. 

Prof. Stephen Holmes "Weeks, 

of Portland, son of John and Mehitable (Holmes) Weeks, was born on the 6th 
of October, 1835. His parents were at the time temporarily absent from town, 
but returned soon after, and a few years later moved to Fryeburg. He graduated 
at the University of Pennsylvania in 1864, and soon after located in Portland, 
where he has since resided. Three years later he became teacher of anatomy 
and surgery in the Portland School for Medical Instruction, and yet continues to 
to occupy that position. In 1876 he was appointed to the chair of Anatomy at 
Bowdoin, which position he filled till 1881, when upon the death of Prof. W. W. 
Green, he was appointed to the chair of Surgery thus made vacant, and yet re- 
tains that place. In 1880 he spent the year in Europe in study and observation. 
He is and ever has been a close student, a sound reasoner, logical, clear, fixed 
and determined; a success in, and an honor to the profession of his choice. 



154 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Prof. Cyrus Fogg Brackett, 

of whom a brief sketch is given on page 67, was a native of Parsonsfield, and 
here acquired his |early education. He was the son of Hon. John and Mrs. 
Jemima (Lord) Brackett, and was born June 24, 1833. I will only add to the 
notice already given by Dr. Ricker, referred to above, that he graduated in medi- 
cine at Bowdoin in 1863, and in 1884 Lafayette College of Pennsylvania conferred 
upon him the merited title of ll.d. When the Board of Health of Kew Jersey 
was established he was appointed one of its members, and since 1880 has been 
the presiding officer. He has written very largely on scientific subjects and is 
the author of the paper in this history, entitled " Progress of Physics for a Cen- 
tury." While at Bowdoin he was joint editor of the " Bowdoin Scientific Re- 
view," and of late has been engaged with Professor Anthony of Cornell, and 
Professor Magie of Princeton in the preparation of a work on Physics. He is 
one of the leading scientists of the age, and one in whom his native town feels 
a just pride. 

Benjamin Lamprey Tibbetts, M. D., 

of Yassalboro', was born here; studied medicine with Dr. G. L. Bennett, and 
graduated at Dartmouth in 1862. He has been very successful in his professional 
career, and has accumulated quite a fortune. 

Dr. Malcolm Davis, 

now in practice of medicine in Michigan, was the son of Moses and Abigail 
(Moulton) Davis, and was born in 1832. He was the youngest of the family and 
the only survivor. 

John F. Moulton, M. D., 

of Limington, was a native of Parsonsfield. Studied medicine with Dr. Moses 
E. Sweat, and graduated at Long Island Hospital College in 1874. In August of 
that year he commenced practice at Durham, I^. H. December, 1875, he moved 
to Gilmanton Iron Works, and in July, 1876, he went to Limington, Maine, where 
he yet remains. He has a large field of practice, finds hard work in abundance, 
and merits all he achieves. He was the son of Joseph Moulton, and was born 
April 11, 1850. 

Dr. George W. Hilton, 

son of George and Abigail (Ricker) Hilton, is now a resident of Lowell, Mass., 
where he has been in active business since November, 1881. For three years 
prior he was located at La Moille, Illinois, and for nearly two years prior he was 
in practice in Chicago, going into business in that place soon after graduating 
from the Mahnemann Medical College in February, 1877. 




"W'^^f 



eft ' 




(^A^ 



Albert R. Moulton.M.D. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 155 

Melvin Augustus Emery, M. D., 

son of "William and Lavinia Emery, born October 12, 1837, studied medicine with 
Dr. Moses Sweat, was granted a diploma at Bowdoin in 1862, went soon after to 
Illinois, and died there December 31, 1864. He was a young man of fair abili- 
ties. Of his brief professional life I have learned nothing. Of the family, one 
brother, a successful business man, survives, and is a resident of Paducah, Ky. 

Albert R, Moulton, M. D., 

first assistant and acting Superintendent of the Worcester Lunatic Asylum, is a 
young man of ability and energy, thoroughly fitted for the important duties 
devolving upon him. He studied medicine with Dr. E. B. Adams of Kittery, 
and later was at Pennsylvania University, attended lectures at Dartmouth, and 
two courses at Bowdoin, where he graduated in 1876. He was then for a time 
acting assistant physician in the Insane Asylum at Concord, N. H. Prom there 
he went to McLean Asylum at Somerville, Mass., where he remained nearly a 
year, going from there to Worcester, where he has since been in continuous ser- 
vice. He was the son of Wentworth Moulton of Parsonsfield, and was born 
September 21, 1852. He is modest, sensitive, studious, industrious and progres- 
sive, and one whose success is assured. 

Dr. Stephen E. Bickford, 

who died a few months since in Waverly, Missouri, was a young man from this 
town, son of George Bickford. I have been unable to learn anything definite of 
his career. 

Dr. George P. Stackpole, 

of Boston, was reared here. He has been in pi-actice some ten years or more. 
He failed to respond to enquiries, and therefore I am unable to give any details. 

John Larry Bennett, M. D., 

son of Charles Bennett of Parsonsfield, graduated at Bowdoin in 1876. He was 
for a time settled in Boston, then practiced at East Parsonsfield. His health 
failing he removed to Colorado where he now resides. He has been obliged to 
abandon the practice of medicine almost entirely. He was born March 19, 1851. 

Silas Burbank, M. D., 
of Mt. Vernon, Maine, son of Silas and Mary (Burbank) Burbank, was born 
here January 3, ISiQ, was educated at Limerick Academy and commenced teach- 
ing at the age of sixteen years. In 1860 he went with his father to Strong, Me., 
where he studied medicine with Dr. John A. Richards, and graduated at Bowdoin 
in 186i. In July of the same year he went to the field he now occupies. In 



156 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

February, 1864, he was married to Miss Jennie B. Pratt of Strong, who died 
twelve years later. There was one son, now a resident of Kochester, New York. 
His second wife was Miss Mattie D. Morse of Mt. Vernon. Fortune has favored 
him. " The gods help those who help themselves." 

William Wirt Piper, M. D., 
was the son of Horace Piper, A. M., of Washington, D. C, a native, formerly a 
resident of Parsonsfleld. He completed his English and classical course of study 
at Biddeford High School in 1859. Studied medicine with Dr. Moses Sweat, 
attended two courses of lectures at Bowdoin and one at Dartmouth, where he 
graduated in 1867. He commenced practice in Windham, Maine, but afterward 
removed to Ohio where he now resides. During the time that he was with Dr. 
Sweat he was thrown from a horse and received a severe fracture of the leg just 
above the ankle, requiring amputation. His recovery was so good that with an 
artificial limb his lameness was scarcely perceptible. In medicine he was a very 
fine student, and gave promise of a brilliant career. He was born July 15, 1839. 

John A. Kennard, M. D., 

was the son of Noah Kennard of this town, and is now twenty-seven years of 
age. He studied medicine with Dr. Moses E. Sweat, and graduated at Bowdoin 
in 1884. He was in practice a short time at Tamworth, N. H., then at Shapleigh, 
Maine, and now at East Parsonsfleld. 

J. Herbert Neal, M. D., 

of Sanford, Maine, was the son of John Neal, and was one of the latest to 
receive the degree of M. D, He is energetic, candid, well informed and very suc- 
cessful in his avocation. 

John G. Kimball, M. D., 

of Des Moines, Iowa, was a native of Parsonsfleld, born about 1817. His father 
was David Kimball; his mother, Nancy (Granville) Kimball. He left Par- 
sonsfleld when quite young, and but little has been lear ned of him by the writer. 

Charles Blazo, M. D., 

was a native of Parsonsfleld, son of Esquire Robert T. Blazo, who is the oldest 
lawyer of York County Bar. He belongs to one of the oldest families of the 
town, his ancestors being on the ground as early as 1778. They are of French 
descent, the flrst emigrant coming from Bordeaux, France, in 1635. Dr. Blazo 
studied medicine with Dr. Moses E. Sweat, and graduated at Bowdoin in 1871. 
In August of this same year he settled at East Rochester, N. H. , where he 
remained ten years. He then came to Parsonsfleld and tarried a short time, then 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 57 

went to Long Island College Hospital for a term, and then returned to Rochester, 
where he now resides. In June, 1867, he married Miss Augusta Gilman of 
Eflfingham, N. H., and they have two daughters. 

Frank Guy Devereux, M. D., 

son of John Devereux, was born in Boston (whither his parents had moved for 
a time), November 10, 1857. He was educated at Westbrook Seminary, and 
studied medicine with Dr. Moses E. Sweat. He attended two courses of lectures 
at Bowdoin and two at New York College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he 
graduated in 1880. He spent some months at the Bellevue and Chambers Street 
Hospitals, and then returned to Kezar Falls (Parsonsfield), where he commenced 
practice and where he yet remains. His education has been thorough, well fitting 
him for the important and arduous duties of professional life. 

Richard L. Cook, M. D., 

son of Nathaniel Cook, was born in Wakefield, N. H., November 28, 1832. His 
father removed to Parsonsfield in 1845, and located at North Parsonsfield, that 
his children should receive the educational advantages which the place afforded. 
Dr. Cook studied medicine with Dr. John Blackmar of Effingham, N. H., now of 
Springfield, Mass., and graduated at Bowdoin in 1860. From June till September 
of the same year he was at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He then 
became assistant physician at the Maine Insane Hospital, where he remained till 
December 4, 1862, when he received a commission as assistant surgeon of the 
Eleventh Maine Regiment. He remained in the Department of the South until 
April, 1864, when he came to Virginia and remained there till he was mustered 
out of service in January, 1866. The Eleventh Maine was in active service, 
participating in nineteen battles, besides many skirmishes. Prior to his depar- 
ture for the seat of war, he was married to Miss Charlotte P. Dunton. After his 
return he located at Farmington, Maine, remaining there nearly a year, and in 
May, 1868, he went to Omro, Wisconsin, where he has since resided. He has a 
large and lucrative practice, is and ever has been a strong advocate of temper- 
ance, and is actively engaged in all the reformatory enterprises of the day. In 
religious views and professions he is a Methodist. 

Harry L. Staples, A. M., M. D., 

now assistant surgeon at the Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers at Togus, 
Maine, is a young man of much promise, and who, if blessed with health, cannot 
fail of success. He is the son of Rev. L. T. Staples of Limerick, late a resident 
of Parsonsfield. The reader is referred to a sketch of him from the pen of Dr. 
Joseph Ricker, page 70. He received his degree of M. D. from Bowdoin. 



158 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

This list of seventy-six physicians of the town of Parsonsfield may not be 
complete, but no intentional omission has been made. It is not only large, but 
many of them have occupied positions of honor and trust, and have won distinc- 
tion and become eminent in their spheres. Of this we boast and are proud, and 
this boast and pride find justification in the fact that this town has furnished out 
of this number no less than five, who, during their pupilage, were demonstrators 
of anatomy; no less than six who are or have been professors in colleges, and 
for the three Homes for Disabled Soldiers in the United States she has furnished 
certainly a large share — o surgeon and an assistant surgeon. 

We will modestly acknowledge our inferiority, and our claim hastily made, 
when any other rural town of equal number of inhabitants will show a better 
record. 

This article is now brought to a close by the statement of a few facts, at the 
risk of it being received with disfavor, relative to the uneventful life of the writer: 

Born, May 2, 1832, son of John and Sally (Wadleigh) Dearborn. The same 
old story of struggles for an education, and labor for existence. Studied medi- 
cine with Drs. Moses and John B. Sweat, graduated March 26, 1857, at Michigan 
University, commenced practice at East Parsonsfield; two years later went to 
Efiingham, N. H., remaining sixteen years; thence to Freedom, N. H., where he 
tarried one year, then by force of circumstances returned to Parsonsfield, where 
he still remains. In 18.53 he was married to Miss Mary, daughter of Gardner and 
Sally Smart. Has received a full share of the patronage of the public, both in 
medicine and surgery; held the various offices in the gift of the town while a 
resident of New Hampshire; was District Deputy Grand Lecturer, and District 
Deputy Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A. F. and Ac- 
cepted Masons of New Hampshire for eight years, and was a member of the Sen- 
ate of Maine in 1880, receiving the honor of a " count out " by the Gareelon 
administration, declined a renomination for a second term, was appointed by 
Governor Robie on the Board of Trustees of the Maine General Hospital, resign- 
ed and is now serving the third year as member of the Board of Trustees of the 
Maine Insane Hospital, receiving the appointment from the same source. In 
politics a Republican from the birth of the party, and in religious views a Uni- 
versalist, believing that 

" Good will fall 
At last, far off, at last to all, 
And every winter change to spring." 

Such is a brief sketch of the dissatisfactory life of 

Yours truly, 

Jeremiah W. Dearborn. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 59 

MIN'ERALS OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Parsonsfield, though not located in one of the so-called mineral regions of 
Maine, has produced many beautiful and valuable specimens. Most of these 
occur in the drift-rock transported from the country north of the town, even as 
far as Canada. The best specimens have been found in the northern section of 
the town, but good ones are frequently discovered in all the other localities. 

By far the most common and best mineral is Vesuvianite, or Idocrase, corres- 
ponding to the Egiran of Germany, and differing essentially from the vr.riety 
found in Sanford, Maine. It occurs in brown and greenish brown colors, rarely 
yellowish brown. A very fine specimen of this was found at North Parsonsfield 
by Prof. C. F. Brackett, and is now in the Bowdoin College collection. The mas- 
sive and crystalline varieties are most abundant, but crystals are by no means 
rare. It is most abundant at the above mentioned place, but is also found at 
Middle Road and South Parsonsfield. A large number of boulders containing 
Idocrase may be observed in the vicinity of Mudgett's pond. 

Pyroxene is very abundant in all parts of the town, mainly stratified or crys- 
talline. Several very fine crystals of the variety termed Sahlite were taken from 
a large rock at North Parsonsfield a few years ago, showing the system of crystal- 
lization in an excellent manner. It is frequently associated with Idocrase, usually 
serving as a matrix for it. Quartz is plentifully distributed, but good crystals are 
rare. A fine specimen of false topaz was obtained while blasting a ledge near 
Kezar Falls. It was of large size and exquisite color. 

Several boulders, called Feldspathic Porphery, have been found at North Par- 
sonsfield. They are dark gray in color, and contain crystals fully a degree harder 
and of a lighter color. The crystals are monoclinic and well formed. 

Iron Pyrites is abundant on Cedar Mountain, and occurs in other localities of 
the town. Traces of gold have been detected in some of the minerals. Garnets 
in mica schist, and black Tourmalines are common at Middle Road. Calcite and 
Dolomite crystals are frequently observed, also the massive varieties enclosing 
Idocrase. Muscovite and Feldspars are abundant, but good crystals rare. 

Loxoclase occurs at South Parsonsfield. Beryls of fair quality are frequently 
met with, mostly of a grayish green color. Scapolite, Adularia, Pargasite, Arsen- 
opyrite, Galenite and Fluorite are among the rarer minerals. 

H. L. Staples. 



l6o HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

PAKSONSriELD SEMINARY AND ITS STUDENTS. 

by prof. george h. ricker. 
Mr. President. 

Fellow Citizens: — By special permission, not by right of birth, I stand before 
you at this time; for I cannot claim the honor of being a native of this good old 
town whose one hundreth anniversary we are here to celebrate today. But I am 
happy, nay even proud, to be regarded an adopted son. 

Mr. President, I heartily thank you and your associates for the polite and cor- 
dial invitation extended to me to be with you on this pleasant and very interesting 
occasion. I am happy to be here; for I feel somewhat like a boy who, after a 
long absence, has returned to the old homestead to spend Thanksgiving. 

You ask me to say something about Parsonsfield Seminary during my adminis- 
tration. I accept the invitation with pleasure, and will attempt to do so. 

Forty years ago this very summer, I was honored with a diploma from Dart- 
mouth College, that old and time honored institution, then ably presided over by 
the Rev. Dr. Nathan Lord. 

I turned away from those classic halls to mingle no more with those whom I 
had learned to love. Forty years ago, save one, I entered upon my duties as 
Principal of Parsonsfield Seminary. The prospect before me was by no means 
flattering. 

I began my first term thirty-nine years ago last June on familiar ground; for I 
had previously been a student at the Seminary successively under the able instruc- 
tion and wise counsel of the late and lamented Rev. Dr. Hosea Quinby and Profs. 
Moses M. Smart and John Fullonton. 

When I took charge of the institution it was dead, and worse than dead, for 
nearly a year had passed without school, and there was neither throb nor pulse of 
school life in it; and report had gone over the land that Parsonsfield Seminary, 
as an institution of learning, had ceased to exist. 

I opened my first term on two weeks' notice with nine scholars — Edwin Pease, 
Lewis Cutler, Harriet A. Brown, Annette M. Brown, Ethelinda Hobson, Emily 
Hobson, John F. Hodgdon, John Wingate, and the name of the ninth I cannot 
recollect. 

The buildings were in bad condition, the institution was largely in debt, and 
the Seminary building was patched with a variety of dingy colors. Soon the 
number of students increased to upwards of one hundred, the debt was paid, and 
the Seminary was clothed in white. The Lord did it and we scarcely knew it. 
But we had a mind to work, and we did work; and our efforts were crowned with 
success. 

But my boys and girls — the Seminary students of those years — where are they? 
and what have they become? They are scattered in different States of the Union, 
and some are in foreign lands. They have largely become husbands and wives, 
fathers and mothers, and not a few have become eminent in the professions of law, 




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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. l6l 

medicine, theology, and as educators. Many others have chosen and honored 
other useful vocations. 

The most of those students have always seemed very dear to me. I have always 
enjoyed meeting them, and giving and receiving a warm and friendly grasp of the 
hand. God bless them every one in honest and noble endeavor. But some of 
those of whom good words could justly be spoken are no longer numbered among 
the living. They have gone to their long home. 

I had associated with me successively, three respected and faithful teachers; 
Miss Abby Maxfield, now Mrs. Sylvester Dixon; Miss Clara M. A. Towle, now 
Mrs. Joseph A. Shores, and Miss Margaret A. Libby, now Mrs. Byron Watson. 
Several other teachers assisted in the work usually selected from the students. 

And those good and never to be forgotten prayer meetings, — how sweet their 
memory still! The complete result of them God only knows. 

My paper would not be complete without reference to those two noble and 
remarkable men, Eev. John Buzzell and Dr. Moses Sweat. They were stars of 
the first magnitude, at least, in the Parsonsfield constellation. Elder Buzzell, as he 
was usually called, was a man of wonderful natural gifts, of versatile talent, 
graceful and dignified in demeanor, in short, a polished old school gentleman. 
He was a noted and powerful preacher, but his best days had passed when my 
acquaintance with him began. During my acquaintance with him he was living 
in his dotage, or second childhood. He owned the " Seminary on the hill," as he 
used to call it, and he owned me. He would frequently walk into the Seminary in 
an informal manner and remove his broad-brimmed hat from his head and say, 
" Peace be to this house." He would sometimes ride up to our home on Sunday 
afternoon and say to us, " I came up to tell you I love you." I have said he was 
a man of versatile talents. Among his other accomplishments might be reckoned 
that of painting. He was superior to any of the old masters ; for he was a natural 
painter. I well remember when a teacher had taken to himself a wife, the very 
first Sabbath the young couple appeared at church service held in the Seminary 
hall, he took them unawares and painted them, nolens volens, with the dexterous 
and invisible strokes of his magic brush, by devoutly praying for Thy servant, 
the Principal of this institution, and his youthful companion. Both faces clearly 
indicated that the work had been skillfully and thoroughly executed. 

Dr. Sweat, too, was a man of superior natural gifts. He was a skillful physician, 
an extraordinary surgeon, a wise counsellor, and a highly respected gentleman 
and citizen. His relations to me were like those of a tender and loving father. 
Whenever I was in doubt or perplexity about anything, I knew just where to go 
for counsel. I always found Dr. Sweat to be a wise counsellor and a true friend. 
I had opportunities to test his friendship to me and to the Seminary. Good old 
man of blessed memory! — methinks I see him now, as I am about to meet him, 
dropping the reins of government on the back of his intelligent old horse that 
must needs stop for his kind master to say a few encouraging words to the young 
11 



1 62 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

and boyish teacher who so much needed them. His valued picture now adorns 
and honors my library in yonder Massachusetts town. 

I have spoken of these two men in particular on account of their long and pe- 
culiar connection with the interests of the institution as President, and Secretary 
of the Board of Trustees. Many others, gratefully remembered, rise before me 
of whom I should like to speak pleasant words, but time forbids. 

I invested soul and body, my first and some of my future earnings, in the en- 
terprise. Seven years of my early manhood were spent in this institution, with 
mingled trials and pleasure. I served faithfully seven years, and fared better 
than one of whom we read in olden times. I obtained my wife long before the 
seven years expired, and, too, the very one I sought. 

I trust a good work was done in the school. An equally good work might now 
and ought to be done. It is only necessary to breathe the breath of life into it 
and give it a good supply of wholesome food. This food should be a hash, con- 
sisting of the following ingredients: wise planning, hard work, good students, 
and some money, well seasoned with live interest, sound virtue, and true piety. 

An institution of learning is an honor and a blessing to any town. 

God bless Parsonsfield Seminary and its present guardians. 






Prof. L.O. EMERSON, 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 63 

MUSIC AND MUSICIANS OF PAKSONSFIELD. 

BY PROF. L. O. EMERSON. 

Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen : — 

I am happy to respond to the call to say a few words on so interesting an occa- 
sion as this, an occasion of which every son and daughter of this grand old town 
of Parsonsfield may well feel proud. While the institutions of learning of 
this town, its doctors, its ministers and its lawyers have all received their well 
merited meed of praise, it is but just that a passing tribute should be paid to 
those who have labored in that not less important sphere, the field of music. 

On the subject of music in this town I can say but little. The most that I can 
do is to give my own personal recollections. So far back as I can remember (and 
this period covers over half a century), Parsonsfield was noted for its musical 
talent. Go where you would, you invariably found a large choir of good singers; 
and this part of divine worship was always performed with as much good taste 
and enthusiasm as I have known it to be in larger towns and cities that had 
greater facilities for its cultivation. In my young days a good deal of pride was 
taken in having the service of song in the sanctuary performed correctly and in 
good taste; and while musical culture since that time has made great progress, 
and there has been great productiveness in musical composition, and great addi- 
tions to the solid and enduring treasures of sacred song, yet, I believe that this 
part of public worship is not, even now, generally performed to more edification 
and inspiration than it was fifty years ago. This is true, not only of country 
towns, but of large cities. 

I recall with much pride the standing of this, my native town, in this respect 
at that time; and also some of those, who as teachers of singing schools and con- 
ductors of the song service in the sanctuary, did a great deal for the cultivation 
and improvement of musical taste. 

I well remember that in my very eai'ly years Mr. Harvey Moore was considered 
a most excellent chorister and teacher of singing schools. He did much in his 
day, which stretches back into the latter part of the last century. At a later date 
his son. Dr. John Moore, was a successful teacher and chorister. I recall, also, 
Mr. Charles G. Parsons, a grandson of the proprietor of this town, and Mr. John 
Garland, as for many years prominent and excellent teachers of singing schools 
and conductors of choirs. Mention should also be made of my brother, Joseph 
P. Emerson, lately deceased. There has probably been no singing master in this 
town who has been as prominent in this department as he was; no one who was 
better qualified for his work, no one who for so many years occupied so wide a 
field as a music teacher in this section of the country. He was always very en- 
thusiastic on the subject of music, and did more, probably, than any one man in 
the town to stimulate and promote its cultivation. Dr. John T. Wedgwood, also 



164 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

in his earlier life, taught much and enjoyed an enviable reputation as a teacher 
of vocal music— <i reputation which he still sustains. 

In all parts of this town the singing school was ever a great institution. It 
was always well patronized, and was the source of much culture and enjoyment. 

Among former residents were a good many musical families and teachers of 
music, with some of whom I had no personal acquaintance and cannot name. I 
can name, however, as always associated more or less prominently with the ser- 
vice of song in the sanctuary, the Parsonses, the Garlands, the Moores, the Bick- 
ers, the Pipers, the Wedgwoods, the Colcords, the Parkses, and the Emersons. 

Of instrumental music there is not much to be said. We had sometimes the bass 
viol and the flute and the tenor viol, but these were not very common. The cab- 
inet organ that now is found in so many homes, was not known in my young days. 

Let us hope that in the future of Parsonsfield, that in the house of God, about 
the hearth of home, and wherever brave men and true women may congregate, 
as always in the past, the purifying, ennobling and gladdening influence of music 
may be felt with that power for good from which it is never separated. 

We have no useless regrets for the j^ast, we need not sigh vainly for the good 
old days that are gone forever, but with an unwavering faith that our birth-place 
is capable of as noble works, as grand songs, and as wide-spreading an influence 
in the future as in the best days of her past. We look forward with steady hope 
to what our sons and daughters — those who will come up and follow you and me 
when our voices no more are heard — will do for this town of Parsonsfield, dear 
with many sacred memories, not only along the line of music, but along the lines 
of all true progress that works with that law that maketh for righteousness here 
and hereafter. L. O. Emerson. 





•^ 




t^^.^ ^ ^^^. '..-^ 






HISTORY OF PARSONSFEELD. 1 65 

SERMOX BY EEV. BU5SELL H. COXWELL. OF PHILADELPHIA, AT 

>'OETH PARSOXSFLELD. AUG. df). 1SS5. 

them:e : chblstiaxitt xot a failube — its peogbess fob a cestuet. 

[Condensed BepoAl Luke 21 : 33. 

A HUXDKED rear; ! The events connected with this celebrarion. and the 
talented presentation of Parsonsfield's historr, have shown ns what wonderful 
progress, .Science, Philosophy, Literarure, Commerce. Mantifacrnring and Agri- 
ctilture have made since this town was firet settled. But the strides forward 
which aU these features of a Christian civilization have made are fully e-^^ualled 
bv the marvelous advance made by Christianitv in church forms and church life. 
Religion makes even greater progress in the a^iministration of its affairs than any 
other enterprise of mankind. 

The word of Grod does not change nor can it pass away. But the interp relation, 
the application, the exemplification of its precepts and principles do greatly change 
with the flood of years. The church must make swift advance if it would hold 
its moral and religious influences over the hearts anl customs of the people. 
These arreat changes the church has made, and a glance back at the condition of 
religion one hundred years aso, and a comparison with the practices and beliefs 
of today will convince the most skeptical that the church has kept her place in 
the line during all this century of progress. 

I have been impressed very much of late with the mighty progress which has 
been made by Christianity in this country within the last fifty, sixty and eighty 
years, and the mighty uplifting? which have come as a result of the preaching of 
the GosDel . along with the sweeping changes in civilization which this Bible has 
wrought within that time. 

I read an editorial in a Xew Tork newspaper, in which it declaimed about the 
degenerate times. It told first about the cashiers of banks, and enumerated eight 
or ten of them who ha^i stolen monev. and had gone to Canada. It recorded the 
number of defalcations; it spoke of Sun<iay school superintendents, and ministers 
of the Gospel, and professors of religion, who had cheated men in different sta- 
tions; and then said that, if something Tvas not done at once to stay this tide of 
corruption, the nation must soon be utterly ruined. And among other t hings, it 
spoke of the newspapers ; it told of the vile trash put forth for every one to read, and 
it said there was scarcely a respectable newspaper in England, and only about 
half a dozen published in this coimtry. It declaimed against all the newspapers 
(itself being one), and spoke of the horrid details of murders, robberies, and 
suicides published every day. It reminded me so forcibly of the editorial pub- 
lished in the "Era" in the year 1S<X>. that I could not help referring to it. 

In this — I wrote it down — in this paper, the "Era" published, in the yearlSOO, it 
said: •' Unless this tide of vice, unless this tendency to crime is immediately 
checked by legislation or moral reform, the nation must soon lose its standing 
amon? the civUized nations of the earth."" 



l66 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

That is what they said ia 1800, and if you will take the newspaper of 1800, 
and compare it with the papers of today, you will be astonished; for while you 
see crimes of all kinds now mentioned in the newspapers, and while you see edi- 
torials with reference to things that should not be mentioned in public, the news- 
papers of these days are pure compared with many of the leading newspapers of 
the year 1800. You read the newspapers of 1796 and 1794 especially, and see the 
fearful names that the influential newspapers of New York and Philadelphia 
called George Washington; — the names given to the politicians in the last cam- 
paign were respectful compared with the terrible abuse then uttered by both 
parties. When you go back to those newspapers of 1794, 1796 and 1800, and see 
what they said about politics, there you find they openly accused the presidential 
candidate of being a destroyer of human life, of being a licentious i-ake and a 
thief, and no reserve about it whatever. You find few such barefaced libelous 
statements made today as were made then about candidates for office; and yet 
people, not stopping to think, or comparing the present with the past, believe 
everything is much worse now than it was then. Christianity — ^this enlightening, 
purifying spirit of God, this uplifting, refining power — has been at work, until 
the newspapers in this country today dare not utter the hideous infidelity and 
atheism and terrible profanity which -they then printed in bold type. By the 
reports taken in the year 1800 in the legislative councils of this country, we see 
that profane swearing was common and without reproof in the legislative halls. 
I^ow, it is an unusual thing for a man — 3ven the worst of men — to swear, know- 
ingly, in a lady's hearing. Then they swore everywhere. Men in the presidential 
office swore, and in 1833 it was full of swearing; and till the year 1844 to swear 
in public was almost universal. The President would sometimes use profane 
oaths in making public speeches, and so did Congressmen and political speakers. 
People and newspapers laughed at it, and nicknamed them after the oaths they 
used. 

No man in this country dare use profanity in the Senate of, the United States, 
or in the House of Representatives, today, as they used it then. He would be 
expelled from the House; if not by the members, he would be by the voters. 
Christianity — this living power — has been at work in the community, until public 
opinion has risen to that place where it thus utters its anathemas against these 
things; and although they are often uttered now, it is more out of sight, — they 
are hidden. As recent as 1800 this country was filled with duels. There were 
duels fought in Philadelphia in 1796, in which there were two men killed; and in 
1797 eight men were killed in New York in duels. It was a common thing for 
men to shoot each other for any little quarrel or difference concerning money 
transactions. Then, respected men would pull out their pistols and shoot at each 
other; but now, in tliis Eastern country, and away to the Mississippi river, this 
whole question has been so utterly crushed out of sight by the Christian public 
opinion, that nowhere, except in certain low communities, do men indulge in such 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 67 

a terrible and unchristian pastime. In the year 1800, every one drank wine. No, 
every one did not drink wine : it would have been better if they had. They drank 
New England rum, and brandy, and gin, in vast quantities. In the year 1801, there 
were drank in this country, seven and a half gallons of alcoholic liquors to every 
single person in the nation; so if every person had drank his share he would have 
consumed seven and a half gallons in that year. 

In the year 1880, there was but one gallon and a half drank to every person in 
this country. And yet there are people who think the country is going to ruin on 
the question of intemperance, because they actually see much of it, and make no 
comparison with the past. 

In the year 1798, in Massachusetts, two Congregational ministers were so intoxi- 
cated, that they were carried home; and when the question arose with regard to 
having them expelled, the decision was ^'- that there is no known discipline in the 
church for getting drunk.^^ 

In the year 1800, in New England, in old New England, nearly all the ministers 
put the wine (if they could afford it, and if not, then some cheaper liquor to 
drink), on their tables when their deacons came to see them. 

Four of the leading ministers of this country were found too intoxicated to put 
themselves to bed, as late as the year 1800; yet they were supposed to be the lead- 
ers of the morals of the country. In the year 1805, this country was said to be 
away at the lowest point in its history as far as intoxication was concerned. Crime 
was rampant, as a natural result of drink. England looked upon us and cried out 
" For shame! The drunken Americans.'''' There was a bottle on every dinner- 
table, everybody drank. They drank before breakfast and after breakfast, before 
dinner and after dinner, and in the evening, and sometimes got up in the night to 
get drunk, among respectable and successful people in other respects. 

Today, men who do not believe in ten:iperance associations, or at least, have 
nothing to do with them, prefer temperance men in business; and when they go 
to hire a young man the first thing they ask him is, "Do you drink?" and if he 
drinks, they do not want him, no matter what his other qualifications are or what 
their own habits are, they don't want Mm. Everywhere through this country, 
public opinion now supports at least the theory of total abstinence from intoxicat- 
ing liquors as a beverage. 

And yet, eighty years ago the temperance movement was unthought of, and the 
church was not in favor of it, but helped intemperance. 

Eighty years ago, in this country, men owned their wives. Men owned their 
wives? You say, this cannot be; but I say, what do you do with any thing you 
own y If a man owned a slave, he ordered it about, and if it did not obey his 
ordering, he gave it a whipping; and eighty-five years ago, a man, in every State 
but four, of all the United States, could whip his wife (and the law encouraged 
him), if she did not obey him. Ninety -two years ago, in two States of the Union, 
they had a law still on the statute books, by which, if a wife scolded more than 



1 68 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

her husband thought she ought to scold, she could be placed on the end of a plank 
and ducked in the pond. 

A man owned his wife and he could say go there or here, and she must go, 
and by law could do as he pleased with her except maim her, in every State but 
four. 

Today, there is not a State, territory, or district, where public opinion or the 
law, will allow a man even to strike his wife, though the provocation be ever so 
great; and today the leaven of Christianity has worked out into society and into 
the hearts of men and women, until woman stands the equal of man everywhere 
and in every station. 

Why, it was only thirty years ago that they had an auction block in the Capital 
of the United States, where they sold children from their mothers. In this country 
there were four millions of human beings held in that slavery by which they — 
these colored men — could be bought and sold like cattle. 

But Christianity was working, working against this horrid institution; the 
whole spirit of the Bible being against it. Christian people began to take up this 
war against slavery, until at last, when armies arose, there were found heroes 
ready, with their faith in God, and in every principle of Christianity, to stand 
against it. And today, no slave clanks his chains within the bounds of our 
country — not one of them but is as free before the law as you or I. This nation 
did leap by war at a single step up to the higher and more glorious cliffs of Chris- 
tian freedom. And yet, men will now say the country is going to ruin, because 
they have not thought back to the time when slavery was here. 

We have a Sabbath Association, and a great institution it is. We do not ob- 
serve the Sabbath as we should; and it should be observed in many ways in which 
it never has been yet; but look back only as late as 1835, why, the United States 
opened its post-offices on Sunday, and ran stages. The State governments trans- 
acted their business the same on Sunday as on any other day. All public busi- 
ness went on just the same. Men broke the Sabbath in various ways, as many 
people do today; but there are not near so many in proportion to the population 
today who neglect the Holy Sabbath day, as in 1830. It was desecrated in Phila- 
delphia and New York. It was regarded no more than as a day of pleasure by 
persons of the most fashionable society. And the reports of the missionaries 
show the most terrible condition of affairs concerning the observance of the Sab- 
bath at that time in all the New England cities. There is a greater quietness, 
and a greater proportion of people worship now on the Sabbath day than fifty 
years ago. 

In that year of 1800, infidelity was rampant. You know Tom Paine and others 
had assisted this country in its hour of need. They had been strong men, and 
thinking men and patriots, and so they gained favor with the people of this country, 
who honored them for their kindness to us. And the Fi'ench infidels when they 
put forth their books found favor everywhere, until people began fast to secede 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 69 

from the cliurclies, and ia the year 1800, seventeen of the prominent ministers 
seceded from the church because they did not believe the Bible. And a great 
tide of infidelity swept over this country after the Revolution; many churches 
were closed, and no new ones built. Persons high in office advocated infidelity 
in public speeches, and were respected and honored. Today such a thing would 
be a disgrace; today it is a disgrace. Today a man that believes not in the Bible, 
or who reviles and assails that which so many millions love, is in a position of 
disgrace in this country, and he feels it. 

In the year 1800, can you tell how few Bibles there were in the land? Now we 
have a Bible in every home, and with dust on many of them, but it is a far better 
thing to have a Bible in the house with dust on it than none at all. It cost so 
much to buy one then, that people could not afford to get them, but now they 
are published by the million every year, and the Word of God can everywhere be 
had for nothing, Christianity has made such wonderful progress. Eight}^ years 
ago there were no Sunday schools, but now six and a half millions of children 
in this land are studying the Bible every Sabbath in all parts of the country. 

And in that day the land was filled with crime. "We read a newspajjer today — 
how many murders, thefts, robberies and suicides there are ! We think the 
world is getting very wicked. But now there is a reporter on every corner, there 
is a reporter that goes into every town, and the telegraph wires connect every 
village in this country and other countries today, and when we read the newspa- 
per we read of every crime that has been committed in the civilized world. 

In the year 1800, if a man committed murder in New York you would never hear 
of it, except in a private letter from some friend; and you would never hear of a 
crime in any of the Southern States; it was too far away. If a murder 
was in Chicago, or the place where Chicago now stands, we would never have 
heard of it. But now we get it all, instantly, by the wonderful telegraph, and 
people think the world is growing worse. 

The statistics show, that in the year 1800, there was one murder to every ten 
thousand inhabitants in New England. It would be considered the most hideous 
thing on earth today if there was one murder to every ten thousand people in a 
single year — it could not be today. 

Now we can look back and see what Christianity has done for this country in 
elevating the morals of the community. I remember reading a report on the 
treatment of the insane in 1795; I looked back to see the first reports. The peo- 
ple then believed an insane person was possessed of a devil, and a very bad devil; 
a very wicked and very spiteful, develish devil. I cannot describe it, so frightful, 
so cruel in every instance did they regard it. So, the way to cure insane people, 
which they recommended to the Legislature, was to prick them with pins, or to 
whip them until the devil left them. What a hideous picture ! And they pre- 
tended to take the doctrine from the Bible, that the way to get the devils out 
was to drive them out, and consequently they tried and kept on trying until they 



I70 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

multiplied the insane veiy fast, and people began to think that instead of driving 
out devils, it drove them in. But Christianity has advanced, until now a person 
taken insane is treated with the greatest kindness, and placed in a palace home 
where you and I could not afford to dwell if sane. It is one of the sweetest 
thoughts now for me that, if my mind is broken at last, I shall not be taken into 
a dark, damp dungeon, and every day whipped until the blood-letting makes me 
swoon away. 

ISTo, I will be taken into a home, if not wildly insane, where the beds are soft, 
and carpets on the floor, and pictures on the wall, and every comfoi't and luxury, 
and all the sweetness of Christian love around me, shall show me all that there is 
of life to love, and all I can get, in the state of my mind, to possess and enjoy 
in this life. Christianity has changed all that, and it has changed all by the force 
of its teachings from the Bible, the pulpit, and from the Sunday-School. 

There was a day, in the year 1810, when there was not a public home for old 
men, or women, or orphans, in this country; not one — not a " Home " in this 
country — and yet, now, there are forty-two thousand public institutions of this 
kind, — public, so far as the candidates for admission are concerned, — where 
people have given money, so that afflicted persons may come in; such " Homes " 
are now found in every town and city and State with, perhaps, one bare exception. 
In this country, today, no man needs to be poor — when I say poor, I mean the 
extremes of want. No.man needs to be poor in this town, no man needs to come 
to your door and say he is hungry. No man needs to do that, because there is 
ample Christian provision for every deserving poor man in Philadelphia, 'New 
York, Boston, and all the towns of the States. And yet, in the year 1800, there 
was no provision of the kind except a public workhouse. In the year 1800, per- 
haps 1810, there were no descriptive or explanatory books of the Bible outside of 
the bare reading of the text itself. jS'ow, millions on millions of helpful aids to 
the understanding of this Bible are published, vmtil now "he that runs " may 
understand every page of it. We have had it translated and re-translated. We 
have had no less than five within the last twenty-five years, and now, there is one 
authorized, and nearer what the meaning was in Greek and Hebrew. 

The time was, not a century ago, when Christians persecuted each other. The 
time was, when to be a Baptist or a Quaker,was to be shut out from all the privileges 
of a citizen; and the time has not passed over sixty years since old Massachusetts, 
the good, old Puritan State, had a law that the members of certain Evangelical 
denominations, should not exercise the rights of citizenship in the Common- 
wealth; and the time is not far back when the denominations clashed and fought 
with an exceeding bitterness, and to belong to the church, one almost needed to 
carry about a spear and sword, to fight the battles between denominations. 

Within the memory of some here present, denominations would have nothing 
whatever to do with each other in religious matters. The feeling between denomi- 
nations was exceedingly bitter. There were four different churches burned in 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. I7I 

the State of Maryland in 1804, each burning the other's house of worship; and 
such was the state of Christianity that the different denominations never would 
meet together. 

The time has come when Christianity gets up and peeps over the fences. They 
become perplexingly mixed sometimes. Christian denominations are getting 
wonderfully mixed up now. People are able to get on tip-toe enough to see some 
other flocks of Christians in some other pasture than their own. The time has 
come that, if a man loves Christ, — whatever he may believe with reference to the 
forms that any particular church may practice, — if he believes in Jesus Christ, 
the Son of the Living God, — if he desires every one else to do so, he is one of 
my Father's flock, whatever fence encloses him. The time has come when men 
meet and clasp each other as brothers. They generally stay inside of these dif- 
ferent denominations because God has permitted denominations to exist for some 
wise and good purpose. 

But going out of one into another, does not take a man away from his God. 
And men are learning this; they are getting the true spirit of Christianity, and find- 
ing out that God is no respecter of persons, and that Jesus Christ was no more a 
Presbyterian than he was a Baptist or a Methodist, but was high up above all 
these differences. And men are getting enlightened enough to look over this 
bigoted narrowness, and greet each other as brethren, and expect to meet in 
heaven, Protestant and Catholic, if they love the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The time has come when the advances are so great that we look back with aston- 
ishment. Yet the old principles remain the same; the grand old principle for 
which we suffered in the early years of this country, that every man should have 
the right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, has got- 
ten into the very warp of society. It has been creeping into-^e denominations, 
until today there is not a single one in all the land that does not agree that this is 
true. And yet, one hundred years ago, men were put in prison, and nearly 
starved there, for saying that every man had the right to worship God according 
to the dictates of his own conscience. The time was, one hundred years ago, 
when to be religious meant to go around with a fearfully long face. It meant 
often, to have a merry heart, — perhaps by the drinking of wine, but always to have 
a long face. The man of longest visage was always elected a deacon or elder, or 
put into the pulpit. One hundred years ago, Christianity seemed to be a religion 
of gloom, and sadness, and selfishness, a religion full of ghosts and terrible things. 
But men began to live with better understanding of the teachings of Christ, and 
greater confidence in his word, until today the happiest people, the most cheerful, 
and those who live the most, and get the most happiness out of life, are they who 
believe in Jesus Christ. 

In the years 1800 and 1802, there was one minister in every eighty in this 
country, who was turned out of the church, and usually, for immoral conduct. 
One in every eighty in the year 1801. 



172 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

In the years 1878, and 1879, only one, in six thousand, five liundred ministers 
were accused of immorality sufficiently strong, to be turned out of their church, 
and yet, I have heard people say the ministers are all going wrong. You 
read in the newspapers of some minister, just as some men see some mem- 
ber of the church doing wrong, and forget that there are a thousand others in the 
same church who would do nothing of the kind. There is a total of 10,065,963 
members of Protestant churches in this country. In 1800, there was one church 
member for every fourteen and fifty one-hundredths of the population, and in 
the year 1880 there was one member of the church for every five in the country. 

In the year 1800, there were no Protestant Sunday Schools in this country; in 
the year 1880, there were 3,760,000 scholars under the charge of the churches. 

In the year 1800, there was no home mission work; not a particle in the pres- 
ent forms. In the year 1810, there were ^233,000 expended in this work. In the 
year 1880, there was S72,276,000 laid out in home mission work. 

And if you will look out over the other countries, you can see the general prog- 
ress which Christianity has made. In the year 1800, there were of Christian 
inhabitants in the world, 4,200,000. Now, there are under Christian government, 
685,459,411. There are, now, 402,000,000 persons attached to some Christian 
church, and the progress has been over two millions and a half in eighty years in 
the number of church membership of the world. The growth of Christianity has 
been wonderful. The fact is, Christianity, this all pervading Spirit of Christ, 
this happy faith in God, which comes from the teachings of the Bible, is just like 
the great Spirit of Life which settles on the world. 

The Arabians represent an angel going and saying to a grain of sand, " Now, 
you grow up into a flower;" and the grain of sand immediately begins to col- 
lect other little grains of sand, and grows up into a beautiful bud. So this Divine 
Spirit goes into a community, takes up these rough, rude, coarse lives, and says 
to them, '• Now you build up a beautiful character for humility; " and it is built 
up. " And you build up a character for holiness, and for teaching, and you for 
greatness, and you for giving, and you for visiting the sick, and you for visiting 
prisons." Thus, each grain in this great desert begins to aid this work; and 
attracting to itself others, builds up these beautiful temples, these holy charac- 
ters which now adorn Christian society. 

Today, to be anything but a Christian, is to be anything but respectable. Every 
man and woman in this land now wishes to be known as a Christian in character. 
The whole community has learned to believe in Christians, and you will accuse a 
woman of being unwomanly, if you say she is unchristian; and if you accuse a 
gentleman of being unchristian, you accuse him of being anything but a gentle- 
man. The whole community wishes it to be understood that they are Christians. 
All wish to have their children Christians, because Christianity now, means hon- 
esty, truth, purity, holiness and love, that indwelling of the great Spirit of God, 
for God is love, truth, purity; and God is the beautiful; and if the Spirit of God 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 73 

dwell in the life it will develop these characteristics. And the time has come 
now, when every man, woman and child, wishes to have it, or wishes to be thought 
to have it, and they either are, or they pretend to be Christians even when they 
do not unite with the church. 

Christianity has advanced, until today it becomes a mighty principle in which 
every person of common sense believes. 

One hundred years ago war was almost the exclusive road to fame and high 
office. To have had some share in a campaign, or in a battle, or in furnishing the 
plans or provisions, was the chiefest ambition. Even the [peaceable Quaker 
published histories of great wars and printed stories of heroic contests in battle. 
But what a change has come. There are now many victories of Peace which 
bring equal honors with those of war. To have been in the battle of Antietam 
on which the fate of the Nation's unity turned was honorable. And they who 
rushed into its conflicts, charged the batteries, captured the flags, and defeated 
the enemy, raised their shouts of victory until the retreating foe could hear 
them far beyond the Potomac. But there was a great field of dead, dying, crip- 
pled and scarred soldiers left to curse the memory of the battle, and made war to 
seem like a hideous monster. Could the armies have met in peace, could every foe 
have been made a friend, could every soldier have returned alive and happy 
to care for his family and strengthen the nation, how much greater and nobler 
would have been that victory. 

Today the spirit of Christianity has so permeated public opinion and social 
life, that such Christian victories of peace are esteemed as great as the mightiest 
victories of war. To make a good man and a friend of a bad man and an enemy, 
is far greater honor than it is to kill him. Arbitration, which is a form of Christi- 
anity, comes to prevent w:ar between nations, and charity, a higher attribute of 
religion, extends its delightful sway over religious denominations, and sectarianism 
dissolves into the universal spirit of growing Christian Love. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

PART II. 



BY H. G. O. SMITH. 



INTRODUCTION. 

In the preparation of this history, we have been materially aided by a 
special committee of citizens, each working near his own home. 
Access has been had to county, town and private records, have copied 
from old family Bibles and moss covered grave stones, and have 
listened to the traditions of fathers, and the child memory of grand- 
mothers. Our aim has been accuracy as well as information. Many 
facts and incidents have been put into fitting language by gifted, but 
absent sons and daughters of the town, while other absent ones have 
freely aided us in our researches, by forwarding copies of private and 
public records, not forgetting valuable personal reminiscences and lib- 
eral contributions in money. 

GEOGRAPHY. 

The town of Parsonsfield is in the extreme northwest corner of York 
county, Maine. Center Square, on the northern slope of Cedar Moun- 
tain, is about thirty miles from the ocean, at Old Orchard and thirty- 
two from Wells Beach on an air line, and thirty-three miles west-north- 
west from Portland. 

Its northern boundary is the Great Ossipee River (Ossipee signifies 
"•River of Pines" in the Indian dialect). The towns of Porter and 
Hiram are north of the river. Effingham and Wakefield, N. H., are 
on the western border, Newfield is on the south. Limerick and Cornish 
on the east. The outer lines of the town have been measured several 
times, giving an area of from sixty-two and twenty-three hundredths 
to sixty-four square miles, or about forty thousand acres. The length 



I 





'••"«&,,„., 




'?- 7 



-J^^^^^ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 75 

of the western line is nearly eight and one-half miles, the eastern some- 
thing over nine, the northern and southern about seven and one-third 
miles. 

The surface of Parson sfield is quite broken, or more properly, rises 
into high swells. Ricker's Mountain, in the southwest, is the highest, 
it being not far from one thousand six hundred feet above the level 
of the sea. Cedar Mountain, in the center, comes up within one hun- 
dred feet of Ricker's, while Randall's Mountain in the east, may fall one 
hundred feet below Cedar. The Seminary varies but little from one 
thousand two hundred feet above the sea level, while the average alti- 
tude of the town is estimated at one thousand feet. 

Ricker's Mountain takes its name from Dea. Dominicus Ricker, who 
lived and died near the summit. Cedar is so called from the mountain 
cedar growing there. A legend tells how a hunter named Randall 
perished from cold on the mountain called by his name. Another 
tradition is that : "Many years ago a famous hunter, named Randall, 
hunted hereaway among these mountains and caught much game. He 
usually reposed on the top of the high mountain by the rivulet, where 
it is supposed he was murdered by another hunter for his furs. The 
supposed murderer was absent only a few days from the settlements 
and returned heavily laden with valuable skins." 

The high ridge, of which Cedar Mountain is the apex, runs east and 
west almost across the town. It is the water-shed, or divide, between 
the Great and Little Ossipee Rivers. The town is dotted all over with 
hills and swells, some of them hard to climb, but generally productive. 

The principal river is the Great Ossipee. By estimation the yearly 
discharge is nine billion cubic feet, the length thirty-three miles, drain- 
ing an area of about two hundred and forty square miles. There is an 
excellent water power at Kezar Falls, the descent being fifty feet in one 
mile. 

South River is next in size. It enters the Ossipee above Porter 
Bridge. The privilege at Lord's mills is the best within the town. The 
Bickford and Blaisdall mill streams run into the Little Ossipee. 
Smaller brooks are found in all parts of the town. It would be hard to 
find a lot of land not having one or more living springs, and as many 
never failing rivulets. 



176 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

A small part of Province Pond is in Parsonsfield. The state line is 
one-fourth of a mile from the eastern shore, and the distance across, by 
that line, is about one mile. Long Pond, in the northeast, is a beau- 
tiful sheet of water, one and one-half miles long, and about one-third 
that in width. Mudgett's Pond, separated from Long Pond by a ridge, 
is nearly half as large. Smaller ponds are found among the hills. 

Coarse granite rock projects here and there, but surface ledges cover 
only a small part of the town. Less than half the wells extend down 
to the rock bed. The prevailing soil may be denominated granite. 
There are patches of sand, but clay, even of inferior quality, is scarce. 
From one to two feet below the surface there is a hard pan or subsoil. 

There are but few swamps or bog meadows, for the reason that the 
surface is tilted this, that, and every way, but valuable intervales lie 
along the brooks and rivers. 

There are very few farms without stones enough to fence them. A 
large surplus of this imperishable fence material is the rule. 

The original forest growth was maple, beech, hemlock, pine, birch, 
oak and ash, with scores of other trees interspersed. Each variety pre- 
vailing in its favored locality, but not holding exclusive possession of a 
single farm. Where a second growth has been allowed to spring up, 
the soft woods in many cases have succeeded the hard, while the hard 
has been followed by soft. It is known that the present growth is a 
little more mixed than the first. 

Since our forefathers made a break in the forest, there have been 
some climatic changes. Winter weather is more variable. Summer 
days are hotter and droughts more severe. 

INDIANS. 

There is no proof that Lidians had any permanent settlements within 
the present town of Parsonsfield. There was a tribe called the Ossi- 
pees whose home was near the western shore of the Ossipee Pond. The 
village was supposed to number from thirty to fifty families. Other 
Indians were scattered along the valley of the Saco, with whom the Ossi- 
pees were allied by intermarriages, and also in their predatory warfare on 
the white settlements oT New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The early 
white hunters found a well-trodden trail across Parsonsfield from Cornish 



PISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 77 

into Effingham. The northern Indians doubtless passed over this route 
in their traffic with the white traders, as well as when on their murder- 
ing expeditions. 

From the narratives of captives, and other information, it seems 
probable that, incited by the French in Canada, the St. Francis braves 
started on the war path, were joined by the upper Androscoggins, the Peg- 
wakets at Fryeburg and the blood thirsty Ossipees. Returning with 
their plunder and prisoners, they crossed the Ossipee near Cornish 
village. It is almost certain that Captain Lovell and his brave band 
followed this trail when pursuing Paugus in 1725. 

EARLY TITLES. 

We learn from history* that King James First, of England, granted 
to merchants of Plymouth, April 20, 1606, all the territory between the 
fortieth and forty-eighth degrees of latitude, and extending from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific. This patent was renewed November 3, 1620. 
The Plymouth Colony conveyed to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and John 
Mason the country between the rivers Merrimac and Kennebec, in 1622. 
Gorges and Mason divided their purchase in 1629, Gorges taking all 
east of the Piscataqua River. The affairs of the Plymouth Colony 
were so loosely managed that the same territory had been granted to 
several persons, therefore, Gorges obtained a new patent, under the seal 
of King Charles, the First, 1639. In 1651, Massachusetts claimed that 
the Province of Maine was withia the limits of that State, and the next 
year enforced her claim.* 

In 1661, Fluellen, a prominent chief of the Sokokis or Saco Indians, 
conveyed to Major William Phillips, a tract of country, which, evident- 
ly, included the Ossipee towns. This grant was confirmed by Gorges, 
grandson of Sir Ferdinando, but not sanctioned by Massachusetts. 

Captain Sandy, a fourth-class chief, living in Berwick, deeded all 
lands between the Ossipees, to Francis Small, February 28, 1668. 
This conveyance, the Massachusetts authorities afterwards ratified. 
Francis Small conveyed one undivided half to Major Nicholas Shapleigh, 
and the other half to his son Samuel, April 30, 1711. 

It appears that Major Phillips gave, by will, his property, purchased 

* Huckinson'a History of Massachusetts. 

12 



178 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD, 

of Fluellen, to his wife Bridgett. That in 1696, she disposed of the 
same by her will. Hence, we have the Phillips, the Small, and the 
Shapleigh proprietors. The records of the Phillips proprietors are 
deposited with the Clerk of Courts, at Alfred. When the heirs of 
Small and Shapleigh divided their property, a tract, extending from the 
Great Ossipee halfway to the Little Ossipee, fell to the Shapleigh heirs. 
The township, now Parsonsfield, was deeded by the heirs of Mrs. Bridg- 
ett Phillips, to Thomas Parsons and his associates, on August 5, 1771, 
and surveyed under his direction, by Joseph Cram, of Exeter, New 
Hampshire, in the autumn of the same year ; and in order to obtain 
undisputed title to said lands, and to avoid litigation, he purchased of 
the Shapleigh heirs the same tract of territory, which was by them con- 
veyed to him on December 23, 1774, as per survey before mentioned. 
The boundaries then established remain unchanged. 

If either of the before named Sagamores had any right to convey 
lands it was Fluellen. Captain Sandy was a petty chief down in South 
Berwick. Apparently, his tribe had no interests in, or jurisdiction over 
the territory. He would have sold the Atlantic Ocean or North Pole 
at the same price. 

SHAPLEIGH PEOPRIETOES. 

Among the assets of Major Nicholas Shapleigh, late of Kittery, was a 
half interest in a tract of wild land between the Great and Little Ossi- 
pee rivers. In process of time, his heirs and others, to whom shares had 
been sold, were known as the " Shapleigh Proprietors." Their records 
give the names of forty-three persons interested in this property, holding 
forty full shares. It may be that Thomas Parsons held one at the date 
of transfer. It is certain that he bought three or four soon after. The 
names of the proprietors were : Nathan Bartlett, John H. Bartlett, 
Edward Cutts, Jonathan C. Chadbourne, Benjamin Chadbourne, Wil- 
liam Frost, John Frost, Mark Fernald, Andrew Fernald, Tobias Fern- 
aid, Dennis Fernald, Ichabod Goodwin, James Gowen, James Garvin, 
Moses Hanscom, John Hill, Philip Hubbard, Joshua Hubbard, Simon 
Jenness, Samuel Jenness, Samuel Leighton, William Leighton, Daniel 
Moulton, Jotham Moulton, Doctor David Pierce, William Parsons, 
Robert Parker, Robert Rogers, William Rogers, Nathaniel Remick, 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 179 

Humphry Scamraon, Nicholas Scammon, Rev. Alpheus Spring, Jona. 
than Sayword, James Sullivan, Alexander Scammel, Samuel Stacy, 
Samuel Stackpole, John Shapleigh, James Shapleigh, Dependence 
Shapleigh, and Elisha Shapleigh. 

It is not known that any of these proprietors settled in Parsonsfield, 
or that they ever held a proprietors meeting within our limits. 

INDIANS, HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS. 

We learn from history, that soon after the death of Paugus, the Ossi- 
pees and Pegwakets went north into Canada. That in 1758, General 
Amherst sent Captain Rogers, with his New Hampshire Rangers to 
exterminate the St. Croix and their Indian confederates ; and that the 
order was executed to the letter. 

The subjugation of Canada rendered it safe for white hunters and 
trappers to enter these woods. George Kezar came here as early as 
1766, and found an abundance of game. Others soon followed. About 
this time, six met at a hunter's camp on the hill, near the house of John 
Moore. As early as 1780, beaver, otter, and other animals, bearing 
valuable fur, were nearly extinct. Broken and decaying dams told 
where they had sported. Meadows, covered with grass, showed where 
their ponds had been. Minks and musk-rats waded the brooks. Bears, 
wolves, deer, foxes, and other animals, roamed the woods. Wild-cats 
and panthers were not common. 

These hunters were the news-gatherers and reporters of the day, there - 
fore, welcome at every cabin. Their adventures have been told and 
re-told for generations. 

WILD ANIMALS. 

A pioneer was asked about wild animals. He replied, "Hunters 
and trappers traversed the woods before the advent of white settlers, so 
that animals bearing valuable fur were scarce." Deer were sometimes 
seen in the openings, feeding with cattle and sheep. Bears often broke 
into the fields after green corn. Having made a break, they used the 
same path night after night. A gun, with a string attached, was placed 
near their road. When Bruin pressed against the line he discharged 
the musket and got the contents. Deep pits were dug and covered. 



l8o HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

A stuffed lamb's skin was an attractive bait, for the bear was a dear 
lover of mutton. 

Bears did not often attack persons except in defence of their young 
or when wounded. George Kezar had a fight with a wounded bear at 
close hugs, and came out victorious. 

WOLVES. 

Wolves, were numerous, and in the winter, ferocious. A pen, ten 
feet high, was needed to protect domestic animals during the night. 
When day-light appeared, the snarling cowards would skulk away. 
They usually hunted in droves, and with the noise of a double brass 
band, thus giving the pursued notice of their approach. Though often 
chased by wolves, tradition does not mention the loss of any lives. 
Hunter Kezar was much annoyed by them, for they were adroit and 
persistent robbers of his traps. To frighten them away he fastened a 
bell to a piece of iron. When Mr. Wolf grabbed the bait, the iron 
clasped him around the neck. Away he went, but as he neared his 
mates, the sound of the bell frightened them. For a little time Kezar 
heard the tinkling, here and there, but before morning all was quiet. 
Later on, he was told that a big flock of wolves, followed by a belled 
one, were seen scampering toward Canada. 

A young man named " John " had made an opening and reared a cab- 
in on the North Road. A young lady christened '•'' UUzaheth" came to 
reside on the South Road. There were full four miles of unbroken 
forest between them. But love regards nei ther woods nor wolves. On 
one occasion it took the lovers so long to sa y " good bye," that the cur- 
tains of night closed around John when only half way home. His ear 
caught a dismal howl, then responsive answers from every quarter. 
Soon a pack of yelling demons were in hot pursuit. Our hero stepped 
up a tree, around which they circled, showing clean teeth and consider- 
able agility in leaping. With the approach of daj' the serenade ceased 
and the minstrels left for deeper shades. 

EARLY HOMES. 

At the period our ancestors planted homes upon these hill-tops, the 
national and state governments, were heavily loaded with debts, and 
the towns had assumed liabilities equal to a large percentage of their 
valuation. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. l8l 

The burden of taxation fell largely upon well-to-do farmers. It took 
about every dollar they could obtain to pay their taxes. Therefore, 
they encouraged their children to go into the woods, and there make 
homes for the mselves. The young people were equal to the emergency. 
The ancestral family homesteads are witnesses to the truth of the asser- 
tion, that it was not poverty, but the peculiar crisis in national affairs, 
that peopled Parsonsfield with well-trained, energetic men and women. 
In many instances, fathers bought land enough for every child a farm. 
There is apparent poverty in new settlements, yet there may be no des- 
titution. The houses are not garnished nor the tables loaded with for- 
eign luxuries, yet the wife finds something wholesome for food and 
something warm for clothing. 

BEGINNING. 

One hundred years ago, paper money was nearly worthless, silver was 
scarce, while of gold there was none. It was the custom of the times, 
for boys to work at home till twenty-one, and girls, up to eighteen. 
Parents encouraged early marriages, but the young people must first 
have a home and something to put in it. The father, if able, bought 
his son a farm. The mother required the daughter to spin, weave and 
knit for herself, a supply of clothing and bedding, before she was given 
in marriage. 

The scarcity of money compelled fathers to buy new land. Mr. Par- 
sons sold farms at from twenty-five to one hundred dollars per lot, 
to be paid in installments if desired. This liberal policy accounts for 
the rapid settlement of the town, and explains the reason why the pro- 
prietors did not amass wealth. 

Apparently, about half the pioneers were single or recently married 
when they became citizens. A majority spent one or two summers here 
before bringing the wife. The first houses were of logs, the barns mere 
hovels for cattle, while the fodder was in stacks. Corn was planted in 
the ashes with a stick, and hoed with a mattock. The live stock con- 
sisted of a yoke of oxen, or a horse, a cow and pig, a dog for protec- 
tion, and a cat for company. 



Io2 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

NAMES AND LOCATIONS — 1785. 

In giving the names and location of established residents at the date 
of organization, it is known that a few have been omitted from lack of 
information. Persons who had purchased land and were preparing to 
settle, are not enumerated when they had legal homes elsewhere. 
Thomas Parsons was cultivating his farm and erecting a house in 
Parsonstown, yet he in his deeds invariably says, " I, Thomas Parsons, 
of Leavittstown." While Samuel Pease was here, preparing a home for 
his family, his deeds read, " of Newmarket." Very many of the early 
land-holders never became citizens. 

The names of transient persons, even when known, are not intro- 
duced. There were many of this floating class abroad. An aged 
pioneer* remarked that, "Some came, looked, and left. Other's bar- 
gained, then gave up the trade. Several made openings they never 
occupied. Not a few were homesick. Quite a number started, sold 
their improvements, to start anew somewhere else. I can recall," said 
he, " ten such cases right around me." 

[The following address which was deliyered by the Historian of Parsonsfleld, Harrison Gray Otis Smith 
Esq., at its Centennial celebration on August 29, 1885, is here pertinent.] 

Fellow-Citizens^ Ladies and Gentlemen : — 

It is ray purpose to give a brief history of a place in the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts known as Parsonstown. 

The territory comprising the town of Parsonsfleld was probably the hunting- 
ground, but not the home of the Ossipee Indians. The last trace of hostile red 
men in these parts was about 1761, when Chocorua and a younger brave returned 
to avenge the blood of their kindred, only to meet tragic deaths. 

After the departure of the savages, white hunters roamed through these 
forests in quest of valuable furs. 

During the summer of 1771 Thomas Parsons, who had recently become a resi- 
dent of Leavittstown, having business in Saco, penetrates the woods guided by 
a pocket compass. His route lay across Parsonsfleld. The beautiful scenery, as 
seen from our hills, and the fertility of the soil, inspired him with a desire to here 
make a home and name for himself and children . 

From Saco, Mr. Parsons went to Kittery, where he found two parties, each 
claiming to own all the lands between the Ossipees. 

Away back in 1661 — Fluellen, Sundy, and Hobinowell, three noted Sagamores, 
conveyed to Maj. Wm. Phillips of Saco, a tract of land bounded in part as fol- 
lows: "From the Saco Kiver up the Ossipee to Ossipee Pond, thence to Ossipee 

* Thomas Smith. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 83 

Mountain, thence to Humphrey Chadbourne's logging camp." The same Capt. 
Suudy in 16G8 deeded to Francis Small of Kittery, a tract containing twenty 
square miles, between the Great and Little Ossipee, and from the river jSTewicha- 
wannock to the Saco Kiver. 

To secure the coveted township, Mr. Parsons must trade with one or both of 
these parties. According to our town records, he purchased of proprietors claim 
ing under will of Mrs. Bridgett Phillips, Aug. 5, 1771. 

Eeceiving his grant, Esq. Parsons, with characteristic promptness, employed 
Joseph Cram of Exeter to survey his township. A full record of the survey has 
been preserved. It was begun October 11, 1771, and completed the first day of 
November following, it being the only full survey ever made. 

The present boundaries of the town were established. Twelve ranges were 
run out and divided into two hundred and twenty lots, the corners of which were 
marked by letters and figures cut on trees. 

The controversy between the Phillips and Small heirs remaining unsettled, Mr. 
Parsons sought and obtained confirmation of his title from proprietors claiming 
under will of Major Nicholas Shapleigh, who had bought half of Small's interest. 
This grant is dated at Berwick, Dec. 23, 1774, and to it Mr. Parsons refers in his 
deeds to individuals. 

A committee consisting of James Gowen, Jotham Moulton, Alexander Scam- 
mell, Philip Hubbard and Nathaniel Kemick, on the one part, in the name and 
in behalf of proprietors holding under the will of Major Nicholas Shapleigh, and 
Thomas Parsons on the other part — agree that after reserving to themselves 
eighty lots of one hundred acres each, marked on the plan; three lots for the sole use 
of the first settled Congregational minister; three for the use of the ministry; three 
for the support of a Grammar School ; and one for a mill, — they give and grant all the 
claim, title, interest and estate said proprietors have in all the remainder and 
residue of said lands to him, the said Thomas Parsons, his associates, their heirs, 
and assigns forever. 

The conditions are that Parsons shall settle a specified number of families, 
reserve land for roads, erect a meeting-house and procure the preaching of the 
gospel within the time and in the manner set forth. 

Another record gives the names of thirty-nine individuals who were interested 
in the estate of Major Shapleigh at this date. Their Parsonstown property, con- 
sisting of eighty reserved lots, was soon after divided among them. The Shap- 
leigh proprietors as such, thereafter ceased to have any interest within our 
borders. 

Individual proprietors conveyed lots of land, which fell to their share, early as 
August 26, 1777, while the names of others may be found on our lists forty years 
later. 

These transactions explain the historic phrase "Thomas Parsons and thirty- 
nine others," and show that Parsonstown was wild land, without organization up 
to 1785. 



184 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Early in the spring of 1775, Eben and John Moore left Scarborough to make 
homes in the wilderness. Penetrating several miles beyond any known settle- 
ment, they pitched upon a swell of land in the southeast corner of Parsons' pur- 
chase. Each cleared a little space, built a log cabin, and prepared for larger 
farm operations the next season. In June, John joined the army investing Bos- 
ton, returning to his home at the close of a year's service. Eben left in August 
for his wife and child, who arrived in October. 

The same spring, but a little later, according to agreed statements of the 
old pioneers, John and Gideon Doe, searching for a desirable spot where to plant 
their roof trees, espied from the hills of New Hampshire a mountain slope, and 
at its foot a lake of sparkling water. They viewed the landscape and ceased to 
wander. 

Camps covered with bark were hastily erected. Preparations for housekeep- 
ing pushed so vigorously, that before the close of summer, wives and three chil- 
dren were welcomed to their new homes. 

Tradition gives to Jere Avery the honor of being the fifth pioneer. He came 
in 1776, settled on the western side of Ricker's Mountain, where he lived till 1806, 
after which I have no trace of the family. 

George Kezar, the noted hunter, who brained the bear and belled the wolf, 
brought his wife and three children to his favorite hunting camp near the Kezar 
meadow, January, 1778. 

During March of the same year, Amos Blazo, in quest of a lodge in some vast 
solitude, discovered this elevation, secured a title and commenced operations. 
He claimed to rank as the seventh comer. 

Only a few weeks, or months after Blazo, three brothers, Gilman, Samuel and 
John Lougee, selected forest farms where their descendants still have homes, 
bringing in or finding wives when prepai'ed. 

The deed of Thomas Parsons to Samuel Pease, now the town farm, is dated 
September 15, 1777. Mr. Pease made ready a home for his wife and daughter, 
who came November, 1779. 

I conclude that these eleven households, comprising eleven men, nine women, 
one maiden, seven imported and seven native born children, made up the whole 
population of Parsonstown at the beginning of the year 1780. 

As the Revolutionary War drew to a close, many returned soldiers sought 
homes in the woods of Maine. Parsonstown was a favorite locality. Other immi- 
grants joined them, increasing the population to about three hundred at the time 
of organization. 

For purposes of taxation, wild land was at first valued at about fifty dollars 
per lot, while the personal and real estate of citizens averaged some two hundred 
dollars each. As all the gore and one hundred and sixty of the two hundred and 
twenty lots were still covered with primitive forest, I assume a valuation of 
from twenty to twenty-five thousand dollars. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 85 

In conclusion I will say that I have gathered and arranged some of the facts 
and traditions connected with our early history, that we may save from oblivion 
the names, deeds, and privations of the honored pioneers who laid the founda- 
tions of Parsonsfleld. 

RESIDENTS, 1785. 

Tradition, considered reliable, says, there were sixty-two names of 
resident tax-payers in the first list. Their names, so far as they have 
been traced, and place of residence, are here given : 

J ere Avery, lived west of Kicker's Mountain. 

John Allen, North Koad. 

John Ames, near Province Pond. 

Amos Blazo, a few rods west of R. T. Blazo's. 

Eobert Brown. 
. George Bickford, South Road, Bickford farm. 

Josiah Colcord, Middle Road, farm of H. W. Colcord. 

Job Colcord, Middle Road Village, tavern. 

James Champeon, Mountain Road, R. Bisbee farm 

Edmund Chase, Mountain Road, G. Tarbox. 

John Doe, the Alvah Doe farm. 

Gideon Doe, the W. K. Doe farm. 

Levi Doe. 

John Doe Jr., near the Dodge house. 

Michael Floyd, Gibbs farm, moved to Porter. 

John Fox, North Road, west of Lougee Schoolhouse. 

Edward Fox, North Road, west of Lougee Schoolhouse. 

Joseph Granville, west of Lord's Mills, in field. 

Dudley Hilton, South Road, A. S. Hilton farm. 

David Hobbs, near Effingham line. 

Samuel Hobbs, south side of town. 

Jonathan Kinsman, top of Merrill's Hill, S. Merrill. 

George Kezar, in woods between Cornish and Kezar Falls. 

Solomon Keniston, Hasty farm. 

John Libby, North Road, near Cemetery. 

Gilman Lougee, North Road, Gilman Lougee farm. 

John Lougee, North Road, J. H. Foss farm. 

Samuel Lougee, East Parsonsfleld, S. Lougee farm. 

James, David and Caleb Marston, southwest corner of town. 

James Morrison, South Road, S. Chellis farm. 

Moses Mighels, south part of town, John Boothby. 

David Mudgett, near Mudgett's Pond. 

John Moore, southeast corner of town. 



1 86 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Eben Moore, South Eoad, near Newfield, 

Enoch Neal, Middle Eoad, west of village. 

Walter Neal, Middle Eoad, west of village. 

Thomas Parsons, proprietor, on Emerson, now Elmwood farm, owned by J. 

W. Cook. 
Thomas Parsons Jr., east part of town, Wilson farm. 
Col. Joseph Parsons, above Wiggin schoolhouse, G. P. Davis. 
Elisha Piper, South Eoad, Samuel Piper. 
Samuel Pease, South Eoad, present Town-farm. 
Samuel Pease Jr., South Eoad, present Town-farm. 
Joseph Pease, South Eoad, on T. W. Burnham farm. 
Zebulon Pease, South Eoad, Lorenzo Pease farm. 
Asa Pease, West Parsonsfield, top of hill. 
Josiah Pease, above Dearborn Mill, below Asa's. 
Samuel Page, south part of town, on J. Knight farm. 
Taylor Page, south of Cedar Mountain, W. E. Moulton farm. 
Philip Paine, Porter Eoad, Simon Brown farm. 
Jonathan Towle, North Eoad, where Yarney lives. 
William Sanborn, near Emerson schoolhouse. 
Jacob Scagel, Mountain Eoad, north of Cedar Mountain. 
Lot Wedgewood, !N'orth Eoad village. 
Jesse Wedgewood, between Middle and South Eoads. 
Samuel Weeks, East Parsonsfield. 
Benjamin Smith, Blaisdell Mills. 

INCIDENTS. 

The early settlers of Parsonsfield often related the history of how 
they came to their forest homes, what they did not have, and how they 
managed to subsist and enjoy life. 

Eben Moore moved his wife and child from Saco. A road had been 
cut to Perry's Corner, in Limerick. From this point Mr. Moore 
brought all his family and farm fixings on his shoulders, to his clearing, 
a distance of more than three miles. 

Mr. Jonathan Garland, of Hampton, in 1792, bought three hundred 
acres of wild land for his son Samuel (known as Deacon Garland), who 
spent the next season making preparations for his wife. In April, 1794, 
the deacon and his wife, each on horseback, started from Hampton at 
four in the morning, and reached their new home the evening of the 
same day — a distance of sixty miles. The husband was loaded with 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 87 

sundry household articles, the wife took upon her lap her son David, 
born the previous September. 

Araos Blazo, lacking a vessel in which to boil his dinner, brought an 
old style iron pot from Pittsfield, lashed to his back. That same big- 
bellied utensil served three generations. Mr. Blazo, in company with 
Jere Avery, went twenty miles on foot, returning next day, each with 
a bushel of meal. 

Gilman Lougee made a trip to Gilmanton, horseback, and brought 
home a few apple trees, one of them is still bearing frnit. 

Eben Gould came in the spring of 1796, equipped with gun, ax and 
pack, and worked on till late in autumn. Before the close of the sea- 
son he found himself without shoes, and neither shoemaker or leather to 
supply the want. After a heavy snow fall, he bound up his feet as best 
he could and started for Saco. At places along the route his foot-prints 
were mistaken for the tracks of some huge wild animal. Hunters gave 
chase, but did not overtake him. 

The next spring, after John and Gideon Doe moved into town, one 
of the brothers shouldered a bushel of meal in Rochester and brought 
it to his home, and when coming through Wakefield, added a half- 
bushel of seed potatoes to his load. 

EARLY RECORDS. 

The earliest town records of Parsonsfield were arranged and copied 
by James Hart, who was town clerk from 1789 and onwards. They 
are plainly written and well preserved. On the first page is a plan of 
the township. Twelve ranges are divided into two hundred and twen- 
ty lots, which average not far from one hundred and fifty acres each. 
The ranges are numbered from the south, and the lots back and forth, 
beginning at the southwest corner. An original deed now before me, 
says, lot two hundred and six, twelfth range. Some one changed the 
starting point to the northeast corner. Another method, said to be 
Parsons' plan, was to name the range and then count the lots from the 
west. 

The territory north of the twelfth range is called the Gore ; a strip 
across the north part of the town about three-fourths of a mile wide on 
an average. The term gore is now applied to that part east of Porter 



1 88 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Bridge. " Sold to Patrick Tracy " is written thereon. In 1794, it is 
taxed to the heirs of Patrick Tracy. Tracy's heirs or assigns held 
most of it late as 1817. 

Land for highways four rods wide, is reserved on every range, and 
every fourth check. Here and there our present highways follow these 
reservations, but the surface of the town is so broken that these road- 
ways were either exchanged for more suitable pass ways across the lots, 
or abandoned to the owners of lots from which the roadway was taken. 

A central lot of ten acres, set apart for public buildings, is on the 
northern slope of Cedar Mountain, This is the territorial center of 
Parsonsfield. It is now part of the farm of Hardy Merrill, and was 
taken out of the Stackpole lot. 

The return of the surveyor, found on the second page of records, 
tells us that this township was granted August 5, 1771, to Thomas 
Parsons and his associates, by proprietors claiming under will of Mrs. 
Bridgett Phillips. Surveyed by Joseph Cram, of Exeter, who began 
the 11th of October, 1771, and completed the same the second day of 
November following. 

We have no public records, or private papers of Mr. Parsons, telling 
of transactions from the close of this survey to August, 1774, when the 
Shapleigh proprietors voted to relinquish their claim to Thomas Parsons, 
upon conditions specified in their grant to him, December 23, 1774. 

DEED. 

At a meeting of the Shapleigh proprietors, holden at Kittery, August, 
1774, a committee of five was appointed and authorized to convey to 
Thomas Parsons, certain interests in the territory now Parsonsfield. 
The parties met at Berwick, in December, and executed a deed or 
agreement. The essential part of the lengthy document is as follows : 

" This agreement made this 23d day of December, 1774, between 
the committee acting in behalf of the Proprietors holding under the 
heirs of Major Nicholas Shapleigh, and pursuant to a vote of said pro- 
prietors, on the one part, and Thomas Parsons, of Leavit's town on the 
other part." 

The northern boundary is the Great Ossipee River, the western, the 
New Hampshire line. The others are not given, but conform to the sur- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 89 

vey made by Joseph Cram in 1771. The committee say that the grant 
is made, tliat the lands may become useful to themselves and the public. 
Eighty lots marked on the plan, are reserved to the proprietors, not to 
be taxed till improved. 

There are also reserved three lots for the sole use of the first settled 
Congregational minister, and three for the use of the ministry. Three 
for the support of a Grammar school, and one to the man who would 
erect the first saw and grist mill on the selected privilege, now known 
as Lord's Mills. 

Parsons was to settle twelve families before the last day of March 
following, each with a house eighteen feet square, and three acres of 
cleared land. He was to settle forty families within four years, and in 
seven years erect and board a meeting-house thirty by forty, and have 
a minister settled. In case of war, time should be reckoned from return 
of peace. If Parsons did not fulfill the agreement as specified, the 
township should revert to the proprietors. 

The proprietors agree to defend any suits that may be brought by 
adverse claimants. 

This agreement is signed by Jotham Moulton, Alexander Scammel, 
and Philip Hubbard, committee for proprietors, and Thomas Parsons, 
for himself. Recorded Book 43, Folios 188, 189, 190, York County 
Records. Daniel Moulton, Register of Deeds. 

PETITION. 

Having concluded the foregoing contract, it is evident that Mr. Par- 
sons bestirred himself to fulfill its terms. Early the next spring, men 
entered to prepare homes, so that before the close of the Revolutionary 
War some forty families were living within our borders. Their names, 
time and place of settlement, are given elsewhere, therefore, omitted 
here. 

It has been the custom in Maine, to first organize, as a plantation, 
and when population has increased, seek an act of incorporation as a 
a town, but Parsonsfield stepped over the plantation stair and sent in the 
following petition : — * 

♦Historical Society. 



IQO 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



To the Honorable^ the Senate and the Honorable, the House of Representatives in 

General Court assembled: — 

January, 1785. Humbly shew the subscribers, Inhabitants of a certain tract 
of land situate between the rivers of grate and little Ossipee, In the county of 
York. Which was granted by the proprietors of Shapleigh claim (so called) to 
Thomas Parsons and associates. That at grate labor and expense, to have sever- 
ally settled said tract. 

And as far as in them lies, complied with the terms of the grant. But by reason 
of their unincorporated state, are not in a capacity to raise money, necessary for 
repairing roads and support the preaching of the Gospel and a school, nor answer- 
ing the demands that may arise for their Proportion of the Public Taxes of the 
state and contenent, "Whereby they are deprived of the Power of advancing their 
own interests as a community, and are exposed to the jurisdiction of towns that 
are incorporated. Therefore they Pray that the said tract of land may be erected 
into a Township within the following bounds, viz : Beginning at Grate Ossipee 
River where the Province line (so called) Between New Hampshire and the late 
Province of Maine crosses said river. Thence running south eight degrees west 
by said line to the top of a mountain, three quarters of a mile south of a Pond 
called Province Pond. Thence east, eight degrees south by a spotted line to an 
elm tree near a small frogpond. Thence IS'orth eight deg. East by a spotted 
line to the branch of the Grate Ossipee River. 

Thence westerly by said river to the first mentioned bound. "Which includes 
the land represented by the PLAN annexed to said grant recorded in the county 
aforesaid, containing by estimation thirty six square English miles, by the name 
of Parsonsfield, and that the inhabitants of said tract may be erected into a body 
Politick and corporate, to have succession during time, and invested with all the 
powers. Enfranchised with all the rights, Priviledges and Immunities that 
towns in said Commonwealth Hold, and your Petitioners as in duty bound shall 
ever pray. 



Edmon Chase 
Joseph Maloon 
David Mudget 
Joseph Granvill 
Thomas Parsons 
Solomon Keuiston 
Gideon Doe 
Stephen Dutch 
Samuel Dalton 
Jacob Schagel jr. 
Robert Brown 
Josiah Colcord 
Tayler Page 
"V\''m. Sanborn 
Samuel Page 
James Thompson 
John Doe 



John Brown 
Benj. Bickford 
"VYm. Keons 
David Hobbs 
James Hobbs 
"Walter Neal 
James Marston 
David Marston 
Jona Towle 
Caleb Marston 
Job Colcord 
"Winthrop "Wiggin 
Andrew Hilton 
Jere Avery 
Samuel Hobbs 
James Berry 
John Allen 



Robert Brown jr. 
Samuel Hobbs 
John Libby 
Enoch Libby 
Jona Kinsman 
Jacob League 
Moses Chase 
Samuel Maloon 
Lot "Wedgewood 
Samuel Lougee 
Gilman Lougee 
Dudley Hilton 
Levi Towle 
Andrew Tibbets 
Benjamin Smith 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. I9I 

It is probable that Enoch Libby and Benjamin Bickford moved to 
Porter soon after signing this petition, and that William Keons, Jacob 
League, Joseph Maloon, James Thompson and Andrew Tibbets were 
transient residents. The names of George Kezar, John Lougee, Samuel 
Weeks, George Bickford, Elisha Piper, James Morrison, Joseph Pease, 
Samuel Pease, Samuel Pease jr., Moses Mighels, Eben and John Moore, 
known to be residents, are not found on the petition. Apparently, 
the carrier did not go down the South Road. 

iNCORPORATroisr. 

In accordance with the request made in the foregoing petition, an act 
of incorporation passed the House of Representatives March 5, 1775, 
and the Senate, March 9. It was signed by Samuel A. Otis, Speaker, 
Samuel Adams, President, and approved by Thomas Gushing, Governor. 

The preamble recites the substance of the petition, fixing the boun- 
daries as specified therein. Simon Frye, Esq., of Fryeburg, was author- 
ized to call the first meeting for the choice of Town Officers. The 
meeting was called August 29, at the dwelling-house of Thomas 
Parsons. Mr. Frye opened the meeting by reading a copy of the act 
of incorporation and of the notice. 

Thomas Parsons was chosen Moderator. John Doe, Town Clerk. 
Thomas Parsons, John Doe and Gilman Lougee, Selectmen. Also 
other officers required by law. No other business was transacted. 

The legal voters of the infant town, who, for the first time met, accept- 
ed and entered upon the privileges and duties of enfranchised citizens 
of the Commonwealth, were emigrants from localities far apart. Com- 
parative strangers to each other, self-reliant, independent freemen, 
men, having fixed opinions and widely different beliefs. 

There was no business centre. No man or men, whose controlling 
influence reached from border to border. Instead, neighborhood lead- 
ers, whose plans and purposes were often local. 

Another disturbing element was religious intolerance, from which no 
sect or community had, up to this time, been freed. Denominations 
were arrayed against each other much as political parties of today are. 
Town-meetings were frequent and often inharmonious. Passing votes 



192 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

at one, rescinding at the next, voting to do, then choosing a committee 
to neglect doing. 

parsons' EXPLANATION. 

Diligent search has been made for the private papers of Thomas 
Parsons, Esq., without success. A verbal explanation made in old age 
throws light on the enlargement of the grant of six miles square. He 
is remembered as saying, * " After I secured the grant in August, 1771, 
I went directly to Exeter, engaged the services of Joseph Cram and 
brought him here with me. We started from the Ossipee River, follow 
ing the New Hampshire line south, six miles. Finding ourselves in a- 
swamp, unable to see anywhere, we concluded to climb the mountain 
just ahead and look around. From the summit to the east of us, a long 
and apparently fertile valley was open to our view. ' Just the place 
for a town line ' was the unanimous decision. So, making a corner on 
the top of Province Mountain we went east till we came to a line of 
trees recently cut. This, we knew, was Sullivan's town line, or west- 
ern boundary of Limerick. Thence, we ran north till we reached the 
river." 

This is how Parsonsfield happens to cover sixty-four instead of thirty- 
six square miles. 

•Gamaliel E. Smith in personal conversation with Thomas Parsons, Esq. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE OUTLOOK. 



If we stand upon our central mountain some clear summer day and 
look westward, our vision is bounded by mountains whose springs feed 
the Merrimac River. Northward fifty miles away, the White Moun- 
tains and lesser peaks rise to meet the clouds. Looking eastward the 
eye rests upon numerous hill tops around and beyond Sebago Lake. 
Then turning a little southward we get glimpses of the Atlantic Ocean 
and the intervening plain. The distant prospect is sublime, the nearer 
view beautiful, for, all around may be seen white farmhouses with 
ample barns, green fields and thrifty orchards, busy farmers and herds 
of cattle, a wood lot near every home, and forest trees of every variety 
crowning the ridges. We can trace winding streams, white roads, and 
miles of stone fence. Nestling villages with church and schoolhouse 
are in plain sight. Such is the landscape as seen today. 

One hundred and eleven years ago the distant outlook was the same, 
but how different the nearer view. 

Then wandering hunters and trappers were the only human beings 
within the limits of our fair town. From the hill tops, nothing but an 
unbroken forest could be seen. Close inspection revealed tufts of 
grass here and there, and a few green meadows where beaver ponds 
once had been. 

In 1775 the woodman with his ax first came. Openings were made 
and four log-cabins erected that year. In 1780 eleven cabins, each 
with a hovel, surrounded with patches of vegetation among logs and 
stumps black as night, graced the landscape. Then one by one came 
the old pioneers, and little by little the shaded ground was opened to 
sunlight, till in 1785 full sixty punctures had been made in the dense 
woods, and as many smut spots revealed to the sight. 

A colored picture of one of these new farms as they then looked would 
be interesting. Yet considerable progress had been made. Fields were 
13 



194 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

fenced with logs. Acres of corn, rye, flax, clover and vegetables were 
producing luxuriantly, yielding a full supply of food for man and beast. 

HOUSES. 

When our ancestors first came into the wild woods of Parsonsfield, 
they built houses for temporary shelter similar to the logging-camps of 
the present day. These soon gave place to more permanent structures 
or else were made to do until saw-mills were put into operation. 

The writer recollects one of these improved dwellings, built about 
1780 and used as a shop late as 1820. It was not far from twenty by 
thirty feet, one story, hewn frame, boarded with shingles four feet long, 
a timber floor nicely smoothed, a home-made door with bill and socket 
hinges and big wooden latch lifted by a string. Slide windows 
admitted light and excluded cold. The chimney, at one end, built of 
rocks, clay and wood, was ample, substantial and almost ornamental. 

The recess on one side was a bedroom, on the other the dressers 
where the grandmother ranged upon their edges, her well-scoured pew- 
ter dinner set. Hanging ladders did duty as stairs, while trap-doors 
saved the unwary from sudden falls. 

THE KITCHEN. 

It would require pages to describe minutely the kitchen of olden 
days. It was usually some twenty feet square. It served as pantry, 
cook and living room, and occasionally as sitting-room and parlor. 
Most prominent was the big chimney, with its broad mantle shelf, and 
fireplace capacious enough to admit a back log of the largest diameter 
four feet long. This foundation for a fire was dragged into the room 
and rolled over the glowing embers into its place. Then came 
back stick, fore stick and filling. From a wooden bar or iron crane, 
pot hooks and trammels depended, and perchance a big bellied iron pot 
The earthern dye-pot stood in one corner, upon which, according to 
tradition, the bright boy of the famih^ was seated when his grandsire 
expounded the law. Hence the saying "dye-pot law." 

Around and overhead, posts and beams stand out. There is a shelf 
in every niche, wooden pegs driven here, and wooden hooks fastened 
there. A long crane for drying clothes, swinging out or back as occa- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 95 

sion requires, while just below the beams a pole extends across the 
room, always ready for use. Peg number one is for the long handled 
frying-pan, number two for the skillet, and so around to the brass warm- 
ing-pan hanging near the old folks' bed, under which is a trundle-bed 
all out of sight. Beneath the uncurtained front windows a well- 
scoured table stands, while between them hangs a looking-glass. 
A trusty gun, with flint lock, rests above the door. A few chairs and 
blocks are pushed into corners. And last but not least, in the middle 
of the floor is seen a box cradle, or possibly trough with rockers, in 
which is sleeping the fat-faced last comer, while the fond mother pushes 
forward her preparations for the next meal. 

FOOD. 

In the earl}'' years of the town people lived almost entirely upon 
the products of their land, flocks and herds. Commonly there was a 
full supply of corn, rye, potatoes, peas, beans and garden vegetables. 
The sweet grasses insured an abundance of milk and meat. Fresh air 
and plenty of exercise gave the children an earnest appetite. 

Before the introduction of brick ovens it was customary to bake bread 
either before the fire or by wrapping a loaf in cabbage leaves and bury- 
ing it in hot ashes. Potatoes also were roasted in the ashes, then shook 
till clean. Corn food was likewise prepared in the form of 
samp, hominy, hulled corn and hasty puLlings. With ovens came 
baked beans, pumpkin bread, suet puddings, and apple dowdies. 
Prepared in these and other ways corn was the staff of life, palatable 
and wholesome. Our grandmothers could cook luscious cakes and pies, 
but they held that dainty food made puny sickly men and women. 
Tea and coffee were luxuries proper for the aged and infirm, but hurt- 
ful to growing boys and girls. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

At first most of the burdens were borne on human shoulders and the 
backs of horses. Single horses could wind in and out among stumps 
and logs better than yoked oxen. A grandmother said, "I helped bring 
to the stack on poles our first crop of hay." A grandfather said that he 
"killed a lamb, carried the meat to Saco in saddlebags and exchanged 



196 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

it for groceries." Panniers or side baskets were in frequent use. If the 
load was a single article a stone was used to balance it. Sometimes a 
sort of drag consisting of two crooked poles with slats across was at- 
tached to a horse. From this, first sleds, and what passed for sleigha, 
were common in winter. 

Horses were trained to carry a man in the saddle with a child before 
him, and a woman with a child in her lap, on a pillion behind him. 

The second step in farming was clearing and fencing the fields. At 
these log rollings oxen were necessary. Soon as the fields were free 
from logs, wheels and carts were introduced. A quarter of a century 
passed before road carriages were known. 

LOG ROLLING. 

Cutting down trees was the first work of the pioneer. These trees 
were neither few nor small. Most of them were from one to four feet 
in diameter. When the torch was applied to these prostrate trees the 
branches were consumed, but the blackened trunks remained, encum- 
bering the ground, till it was convenient for the farmer to pile them. 
A swamp or hillside was selected as a place of deposit. Neighbors 
were invited to change work. A gallon runlet filled with the best 
West India was procured. 

Imagine a ten-acre lot now smooth and green as a lawn, covered with 
these half consumed giants of the forest. See a dozen stalwart forms 
in tow frocks "wetting the whistle" before they grasp the sharpened axes. 
Hear the noisy teamsters "haw" and "gee" to clear the frequent stumps. 
Log after log is drawn to the hillside and added to the pile by men 
with skids and handspikes. 

The close of the day shows us the men of the morning covered with 
smut and ashes, tired and jolly, but proud of the betterments 
accomplished. 

EOADS. 

Parsonsfield is noted for its highlands and lowlands ; for its rocks 
and brooks, but more for its winding roads, which climb the highest 
hills, then dip into the lowest valleys. 

In the plan of the town, land four rods wide, along every range, 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 97 

and every fourth check was reserved for highways. The original plan 
was not carried out. Families came in, one at a time and two together. 
Each selected an elevated and central spot for his domicile, andjmarked 
a path to the house of a neighbor by spotting trees. This foot track 
became a bridle path, then a sled road and finally a town 
way. One of the first acts of the new town was to require the 
removal of obstructions from these private walks, practically making 
them public thoroughfares. They were at best only such passways as 
farmers open through their woodlands. In the process of time stumps 
rotted, the larger stones were removed, and the surface of the roadbed 
leveled. Up to the close of the century the rattle of the modern car- 
riage had not been heard. It was the era of horse blocks, pillions and 
saddlebags. 

IMPROVEMENTS. 

During the year 178-4 Thomas Parsons, Esq., built the first modern 
frame house in Parsonsfield. The boards were probably sawed at a 
mill he had in Effingham, where the Towle mill now is. Somewhere 
between the years 1785 and 1790 three saw-mills were put into opera- 
tion. One by Benjamin Smith at Blaisdell's Mills, one by Joseph Gran- 
ville where Lord's Mills are; the other by Asa and Josiah Pease, 
known as the Dearborn Mill. The working of these mills caused a 
revolution in buildings all over town, and prepared the way to an 
extensive lumbering business. 

At first there were too many roots for plows, and too many stumps 
for the free passage of carts. The first wheels were sawed off from the 
butt of some elm tree, or other tough wood ; they were four or more, 
inches thick with a hole in the center, bored with a pod augur and 
enlarged with a gouge. The style of plows introduced about this time 
were in common use down to 1820 and later. The hoes of the period 
were made to kill sprouts. Fork tines were as large as a farmer's fingers. 

Soon as mills were erected, settlers went zealously to work drawing 
logs for boards, and timber for frames. Barns, to shelter live stock from 
storms and cold, as well as for the preservation of crops, seem to have 
taken precedence. Then spacious houses, boarded and glazed, having 
brick chimneys and ovens, bat without a particle of paint or paper 
rapidly supplanted the old pent up cabins. 



198 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

New buildings gave an improved aspect to farms and homes. New 
roads were opened and old ones smoothed, facilitating neighborly inter- 
course and business interests. 

With new houses came the desire and apparent necessity for more 
fashionable furniture. Ways and means must be devised to meet these 
expenditures, so the lofty pines, growing here and there all over town, 
were cut and drawn to the seaboard. 

While the toiling husband and his stalwart sons had been providing 
better buildings, the thrifty housewife and her helpful daughters had 
been equally busy converting wool and flax into useful and tasty 
fabrics. 

CROPS. 

Hay, to the production of which seven-eighths of the improved land in 
town is now devoted, was at first found growing only on a few beaver 
meadows. A cow was sometimes exchanged for a ton of hay, and a 
sheep for a hive of bees, to insure good luck. 

It was customary to burn a clearing early in the spring and sow the 
ground to peas and clover seed, thus providing for summer food as well 
as a hay crop the next season. 

About the middle of May the torch was applied to the big cut down, 
intended for corn, and pumpkins. Patches of potatoes and beans were 
planted here and there. A suitable plat was reserved for flax. In 
August, winter rye was hacked in among the ripening corn. 

The green pea was first in time. The common use of the dry pea 
gave rise to the couplet : 

"Pea porridge hot and pea porridge cold, 
Pea porridge best when nine days old." 

Corn was ground into meal in the distant mills or prepared for 
hominy and samp in the home mill. 

Potatoes were buried deep in the ground on some hillside to save 
them from winter's frosty cold. 

Flax was pulled and carefully spread upon the ground or beneath 
still water, two or three weeks, to rot. The outer coating was mashed 
with a sharp edged hand-brake, after which the deft workman at the 
swingling board beat the broken husk from the fibre. Thus prepared 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 1 99 

the good woman of the house drew it through a many toothed flax 
comb, to separate the tow from the linen, preparing one for the foot- 
wheel, the other for the hand-cards, the spinning-wheel and loom. 

Before the erection of barns, rye was threshed by holding the bundle 
above the edge of a bin or cask and whipping the heads. 

Time brought about changes. Plows came into use. Hay-mows 
grew in s ize. Cotton supplanted flax sixty years ago. At nearly that 
date wheat and rye were grown in about equal quantities. 

Oats were introduced soon after and have grown in favor till now 
they constitute more than half our grain crop. 

BUSINESS. 

The primary women of Parsonsfield carded, spun, wove, colored and 
made up the family clothing. Their handiwork, though not so fine or 
showy as the garments and fixings of today, would outwear our mod- 
ern flimsies seven times over. 

The implements of the men were home-made, but answered well 
their purpose. 

The farms yielded a suppl}^ of corn, rye, potatoes, peas, beans and 
flax. The flocks plenty of wool, and the herds an abundance of meat 
milk, butter and cheese. Then there was a disposition to share the 
surplus with the needy. People lived and helped others Vive. 

In process of time, carding and cloth-dressing mills were built. 
Tanneries were planted here and there. Ti'ained tailors and shoe- 
makers succeeded. 

Soon as saw-mills were put into operation the transportation of boards 
to our sea ports commenced. Lumber was our principal export up to 
1808. In time the business drew farmers from the plow and field to 
the woods and highways. It was a set back to improvements and 
prosperity. 

The opening of stores was coeval with the exportation of lumber, 
the millman and merchant often being the same. Over the store 
door the sign "West India Goods and Groceries" was affixed. Rum and 
other liquors, molasses, salt fish and crockery could be found within. 

The embargo, or non-intercourse between the United States and the 
colonies of Great Britain checked these imports and exports. From 



200 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

1808 to 1812 business was paralyzed. It was hard to return to the 
frugal methods of primitive days, and harder still to find means to meet 
increased! expenditures. The war of 1812 to 1815 gave to business 
a little life. Following close upon the return of peace were the cold 
years of 1815 and '16, and the suffering during the first half of 1817. 

During the summer of 1816, there was a killing frost every month, 
with snow occasionally. There was no southern or western granary, 
from which to draw supplies. Labor was not wanted, for there was 
nothing with which to pay. A wealthy farmer* said, that not being 
able to buy, he borrowed a bushel of corn of a miser, gladly promising 
him fourfold the next winter. 

REVIEW TO 1800. 

Having traced farming operations and changes from the first 
openings in the wilderness to the close of the last century, we will 
pause and note the condition of this all-important industry and the 
families engaged therein. As more than ninety-five per cent were 
nothing but farmers, their wives and children, it is convenient to include 
the few exceptions. 

The gain in population was from nobody in 1775, to eleven men in 
1780, then sixty-two in 1785 and one hundred and fifty in 1794, while 
at the beginning of the new century two hundred and seventy-one names 
of residents are on our tax lists. 

It is safe to assume that there were then at least two hundred and 
fifty farms under cultivation, a majority of them having comfortable 
buildings, and producing food sufficient for the whole population. 
Also that the increase in valuation kept pace with the increase of pop- 
ulation. The changes already delineated prove that the augmentation 
of comforts and conveniences were even greater than the gain in pop- 
ulation or wealth. Neither should we overlook the great gain in social 
educational and religious privileges. 

*Dea. John Pease. 



CHAPTER IV. 

TOWN BUSINESS — 1785. 

On the twenty-fifth of September, 1785, a town-meeting was called to 
act upon matters pertaining to the interests of the inhabitants. They first 
voted to remove obstacles from roads, or rather,to make their bridle paths 
passable. By the second vote, preliminary steps were taken toward 
building a meeting-house, but this vote was made void by the action of a 
subsequent meeting, and the meeting-house question dragged along 
till 1790, when Mr. Parsons put up and boarded a house according to 
his agreement with the Shapleigh proprietors. After a controversy last- 
ing four years the town withdrew opposition and the house was finished 
and paid for by the members of the Congregational society, but the 
town was allowed to hold meetings in it for nearly forty years. 

The selectmen went through the ceremony of assessing a ministers 
tax on all up to 1796. Then on Congregationlists till 1802, when all 
connection between church and state ceased in Parsonsfield. The taxes 
of all who asked were abated. 

KOADS — 1786. 

At several town-meetings during the year 1786, special attention was 
given to the opening of roads. The first one accepted by the town 
was from Province Pond through the Doe neighborhood to New Hamp- 
shire line, probably connecting with the Effingham road over Grace's hill. 
A road from Francesborough (now Cornish) to Granville's mill was pro- 
vided for. This was from East Parsonsfield over Chapman's hill, then 
aslant Merrill's hill and along the mountain road to near the Emerson 
schoolhouse, thence to Lord's Mills. 

Preliminary steps were taken this year to make the Middle and 
South roads public highways. These projected roads were not imme- 
diately completed. In 1791 the County Commissioners legally estab- 
lished" a road from Effingham, by Lord's Mills, Middle road. South road 
and so down that road to Newfield line. For fifteen years the selectmen 



202 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

were busy locating and altering. Porter Bri-lge was connnencecl, 1798, 
and finished after two years. Kezar Falls Bridge was not built till 1832. 

TOWN — 1787. 

At the annnal town-meeting, 1787, more than half the oflBcers chosen 
refused to take the oath required by law. We can only conjecture 
their reasons for refusing. One theory is that they would not agree to 
assess and collect the ministers tax required by law, but as there was 
no Congregational minister in town and Elder Weeks could not claim 
a salary, this supposition is not probable. Another and more probable 
conjecture is that they were opposed to the change of government 
from a Confederac}^ to a Union, according to the vote of Congress, Feb- 
ruary 21, 1787. It is matter of history that there was war almost 
to the knife between the advocates of these two forms of government, 
and that a majority of our citizens prefer red to retain the confederate 
form. A new town -meeting was called and officers chosen who served 
the remainder of the year. 

The next spring the majority party elected their old officers, and 
they did not refuse to be sworn. 

WATERS AND WASHINGTON CLAIM — 1789. 

In addition to the election of officers in 1789, two important matters 
came before the town for action. From information gathered here 
and there, we infer that Colonel Waters of Boston, had acquired, or got 
control of the Bridget Phillips claim to the Ossipee towns and was pro- 
ceeding against citizens. The town chose a committee to confer with 
other towns and employ an able attorney to defend them in court. If 
the case ever came to trial the decision was against Waters, for we 
hear no more of the Phillips claim to lands between the Ossipees. We 
are free to say both grants were fraudulent and should have been repu- 
diated by Massachusetts. 

The other measure was the request of Washington Plantation, now 
Newfield that Parsonsfield would surrender to them two ranges of lots 
next that town. By agreement between the Small and Shapleigh pro- 
prietors, the territory west of Limerick was to be equally divided, the 
Smalls taking the southern half. Parsonsfield by the act of incorpora- 
tion secured more than two-thirds, and refused to give it up. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 2O3 

VOTERS. 

When the old States prepared constitutions, the law-makers assumed 
that transient residents had not sufficient interest to entitle them to 
the ballot, therefore the right of suffrage was restricted to freeholders, 
or persons owning real estate. 

The tax lists of 1796 and 1808 show several entries of less than ten 
cents on real estate, some only two cents in addition to the poll tax. 
After the close of the war of 1812 political excitement died out for a 
saason, and poor men were not so anxious to vote, consequently this 
class of land owners were not so numerous. 

In the constitution of Maine adopted in 1820, the property qualifica- 
tion was omitted. 

TAXATION — 1796. 

The tax book of 1796 gives the names of two hundred and nineteen 
persons who had a poll tax, and thirteen persons who were exempted 
making two hundred and thirty-two resident tax payers. The property 
tax amounted to two hundred and eighty-four dollars and eight cents ; 
viz., on real estate one hundred and tliirty-nine dollars and eight3'-four 
cents, on personal estate one hundred and forty-five dollars and twenty- 
four cents, rate two and one-fourth per cent on assessed value. 
Assessed value one-third of real value. Making a property valuation 
of about thirty-seven thousand, eight hundred and eighty dollars. 

Persons named below paid more than five dollars money tax : — 

Elisha Piper seven dollars and sixty-eight cents ; Thomas Parsons, 
Esq., six dollars and forty-seven cents ; Philip Paine six dollars and 
fifty-two cents ; Joseph Parsons six dollars and five cents ; Gideon Doe 
five dollars and forty cents. Thirteen non-resident proprietors are 
taxed ninety-two dollars and seventy cents on real estate valued at one 
thousand, three hundred and seventy-three dollars. About one-third 
of this is assessed to the heirs to Patrick Tracy on land in the Gore. 

If we call the property of residents thirty -seven thousand, eight hun- 
dred and eighty dollars and add value of non-resident land equal to 
four thousand one hundred and twenty dollars, we find the valuation 
of the town to be forty-two thousand dollars. The whole tax was five 



204 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

hundred and seventy-five dollars and sixty-six cents, divided as follows : 
Commonwealth one hundred and sixty dollars ; County sixty dollars 
and three cents ; Town three hundred and fifty-five dollars and fifty- 
three cents. Poll tax one dollar and five cents. The statement and 
footings do not quite agree but they approximate. 

TAXATION — 1808. 

Coming down to the year 1808 we find three hundred and twenty 
names on the tax lists. The whole tax is one thousand, three hundred 
and eighty-eight dollars and sixty-two cents divided as follows : Com- 
monwealth two hundred and seventy-three dollars and seventy-three 
cents ; County one hundred and fifty-one dollars and seventy-five cents ; 
Town nine hundred and sixty-three dollars and fourteen cents. The 
rate is one and one-third per cent assessed on one-third value. Poll 
tax one dollar and forty cents, which deducted leaves eight hundred 
and ninet3'--six dollars and sixty-two cents on property. The non-resi- 
dent tax is twelve dollars and eighty-seven cents on land estimated to 
be worth two thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine dollars. Add- 
ing this to the resident valuation we have seventy thousand, one hun- 
dred and thirty-three dollars. At this period the value of personal and 
real estate is nearly equal. The Patrick Tracy interest in lands in the 
Gore is taxed to Dearborn & Leavitt in the resident list. 

The following persons paid more than ten dollars tax : Dearborn 
& Leavitt thirteen dollars and thirty-eight cents ; Zebulon Pease 
twelve dollars and fifty cents ; Elisha Piper eleven dollars and fifteen 
cents ; John Sanborn ten dollars and forty-two cents ; Joseph Parsons 
ten dollars and forty cents ; Samuel Burbank ten dollars and thirty- 
two cents. 

TAXES — 1817. 

In 1817 the names of four hundred and forty-nine tax payers are 
entered. The whole tax was one thousand, nine hundred and sixty- 
seven dollars and forty-three cents. The State tax was two hundred 
and sixteen dollars ; County one hundred and fifty-three dollars ; Town 
one thousand, five hundred and ninety-eight dollars and forty-three 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. ' 205 

cents. As the percentage is not given we cannot estimate the valu- 
ation. Persons here named paid more than ten dollars : James Brad- 
bury ten dollars and eighteen cents ; Amos Blazo & Son seventeen 
dollars and twenty cents ; Henry Boothby ten dollars and forty-three 
cents; Paul Burnham ten dollars and eighty cents; Caleb Burbank 
fifteen dollars and forty-seven cents ; Samuel Burbank fifteen dollars 
and eighty cents; Josiah Colcord thirteen dollars and sixty cents; 
heirs of Enoch Neal twelve dollars and thirty-one cents; George New- 
begin twelve dollars and eighty-one cents ; Thomas Parsons ten dollars 
and twenty-five cents ; Joseph Parsons ten dollars and seventy-five 
cents ; John Pease sixteen dollars and seventy cents ; Zebulon Pease 
twelve dollars and thirty cents ; Nathaniel Pease twelve dollars and 
fifty-four cents ; Elisha Piper fifteen dollars and twelve cents ; A. Mc- 
Chapman ten dollars and twenty-five cents ; Ichabod Churchill thir- 
teen dollars and seventy-eight cents ; Jeremiah Dearborn twelve dollars 
and twenty cents ; heirs of Joseph Dearborn ten dollars and eighty cents ; 
Jeremy Doe twelve dollars and forty-eight cents ; Samuel Fox fourteen 
dollars and twenty-seven cents ; Samuel Garland twenty dollars and 
fourteen cents ; Eben Gould twelve dollars and sixty cents ; Dudley 
Hilton fourteen dollars and eighteen cents; Israel Hodsdon thirteen 
dollars and sevent3^-eight cents ; Abner Kezar ten dollars and eighty- 
three cents ; Richard Lord twelve dollars and forty cents ; Morris Lord 
fourteen dollars and thirty-four cents ; Caleb Marston twelve dollars 
and forty-nine cents ; Hardy and Joseph Merrill seventeen dollars and 
forty-one cents ; John Merrill sixteen dollars and fifty-two cents ; Sam- 
uel Moulton seventeen dollars and eighteen cents ; John Sanborn sev- 
enteen dollars and sixty-six cents ; Andrew Welch thirteen dollars and 
eighty-two cents ; Noah Weeks sixteen dollars and ninety-one cents ; 
Simon J. Whitten twelve dollars and forty-three cents ; William Moul- 
ton, Jr., twelve dollars and fifty-two cents ; John Moore and John 
Moore third, seventeen dollars and eighty-six cents ; James Morrison 
thirteen dollars and twelve cents. 

The check list of 1817 has only three hundred and twenty -six names, 
but they are all freeholders. 



206 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



Individuals whose names are in this list became residents about the 
time specified. 



Nathan Wiggia 
Noah Weclgewood 
James Benson 
James Berry 
Cutting Moulton 
Daniel Chick 
Joseph Mudgett 
John Sanborn 
Joseph Quint 
Jona Kimball 
James llavt 
Samuel Chapman 
Andrew McChapman 
Daniel Elliott 
Elisha Wadleigh 
Joseph Knight 
Moses Chase 



1786. Henry Boothby 

1787. Benjamin Rolfe 
1787. Eben Gould 

1787. Harvey Moore 

1788. Jeremiah Dearborn 
1798. Samuel Garland 
1790. David Johnson 
1790. Hardy Merrill 
1790. Daniel Thurston 
1790. Samuel Perry 

1790. Samuel Knapp 

1791. Paul Burnham 
1791. Simeon Towle 

1791. Nicholas Emery 
1799. Ichabod Churchill 

1792. James Bradbury 
1792. John Buzzell 



1793. 
1794. 
1794. 
1794. 
1794. 
1795. 
1795. 
1795. 
1794. 
1796. 
1796. 
1796. 
1796. 
1798. 
1797. 
1798. 
1798. 



POLLS AND RESIDENT TAX PAYERS. 



1785, 
1794, 
1808, 
1817, 
1841, 
1850, 
1860, 
1870, 
1885, 



Polls 
Polls 
Polls 
Polls 

Polls 
Polls 
Polls 
Polls 



62 
190 
375 
427 



Resident tax payers 
Resident tax payers 
Resident tax payers 



418 Resident tax payers 

432 Resident tax payers 

410 Resident tax payers 

416 Resident tax payers 



206 
397 

458 

536 

684 
559 
630 



CROPS — CENSUS. 
We can only guess at the amount of crops produced during the 
earlier years of the town. The census returns tell us the number of 
people and but little else. The numbers of live stock and the amount 
of crops raised have been added. The crop statistics of Parsonsfield 
here given are based on census returns and may be considered nearly 
accurate. 



Corn, bushels 

Wheat " 

Oats " 

Potatoes " 

Beans and Peas 

Orchard Products, dollars 

Hay, tons 

Butter, pounds 

Eggs, dozen 

Forest Products, dollars 



1850 

11,350 


I860 

10,313 


1870 

8,750 


1880 

7,630 


1,139 


3,044 


2,781 


3,009 


3,500 


6,863 


5,130 


11,137 


25,585 


25,576 


26,500 


22,707 


827 


935 


1,160 


1,717 


3,994 


5,495 


11,450 


16,000 


4,713 


6,320 


4,717 


4,662 


63,760 


64,093 


55,750 


55,840 
43,417 
19,200 



CHAPTER V. 

LIGHT AND HEAT. 

Going back in our researches to the time when " early to bed and 
early to rise" was the universal custom, it is evident that neither arti- 
ficial heat, save for culinary purposes, or light, was often required in 
summer. As the days shortened, and people made evenings, light 
from the open fire was sufficient for ordinary occupations. Tallow 
candles with tow or cotton wicks, served for special light. Fires were 
kindled, and, if need be, brightened by light wood stripped from pine 
stumps. 

A few box-stoves were put into schoolhouses and shops early as 
1818, and about 1829 " James' Patent cooking-stove " was first put 
into our kitchens. Within fifteen years after, improved cooking-stoves 
could be found in a majority of farmhouses. But, wherever that 
black and gloomy thing was installed, in place of the cheerful open 
fire, the feeble rays of a tallow dip became insufficient, and lamps 
burning whale oil came into common use. As the supply of oil was 
less than the consumption, a preparation known as burning fluid was 
soon after introduced. This gave place to kerosene about 1855. And 
soon the electric light will be at our doors. Up to date farmers use 
wood for fires, but a few village families are beginning to burn coal. 

LUMBERING. 

Farming was for several years the primary occupation of our fore- 
fathers. Soon after 1785 Benjamin Smith built a mill, afterwards 
known as the Blaisdell Mills. About the same time Asa and Josiah 
Pease built one known as the Mark Dearborn Mill, and a few years 
later mills were erected by Joseph Granville at the place now known 
as Lord's Mills. In process of time several company mills were put up 
on small streams to cut the lumber from neighboring farms. When 
saw-mills were first operated most of the boards were used for new 



208 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

buildings ; but before the close of the century lumbering became a 
prominent interest. Boards were drawn by ox-teams to Portland and 
Kennebunk for exportation to the West Indies. Rum was a common 
item of the home load. The annual consumption of which was said to 
be from twenty to thirty hogsheads. It was years before the people 
realized that the result of this excessive toil and expenditure was broken 
health and heavy debts ; that the brown jugs had swallowed their pine 
trees. It is no marvel that stimulating liquors were in constant 
demand. Lumbermen took breakfast before light, dinner was a cold 
lunch, and supper at an uncertain hour. 

DRINKING CUSTOMS. 

Much has been said and written about the use and abuse of alcohol, 
before and after the opening of the present century. To enable us to 
understand the facts we should first consider the circumstances. 

Away back in the days of ancient history wine was freely used on fes- 
tive occasions to stimulate the devotees of pleasure. Kings and nobles, 
queens and honorable ladies, sanctioned the custom. The fashion of 
inviting friends to take a social glass as a. mark of respect came down 
through ages. From high authority came the dictum that the use of 
alcohol was the panacea for the prevention and cure of all diseases. 

Fashion is despotic, example all-powerful, while few question the 
correctness of popular and agreeable theories. 

Heedless of cost or consequences, people then, as now, followed pre- 
vailing fashions. We are told that the good minister frequently partook 
before ascending the sacred desk. The lawyer fired his brain to sharpen 
his wit. Statesmen quaffed the ardent to rouse patriotism. Liquor 
carried elections. 

The laborer took a dram in the morning, at eleven and at three, 
to prevent fatigue. Alcohol w as never absent on occasions of birth, 
marriage or burial. 

Although considerate men and the better class of women conformed 
to the social customs of the age, they opposed drunkenness. With them 
appetite was subordinate to reason. Their first united effort was to lift 
the inebriate from the gutter. Inquiry led to the estimate that one- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 2O9 

fifth of the men and one-tenth of the women were of this class. That 
about two hogsheads of rum and one-fourth that quantity of other intox- 
icants were brought into town monthly. Regulation failing, self absti- 
nence was the next step. The festive bowl was banished; the glass 
decanter consigned to the upper corner of the cupboard. Then moral 
suasion became a power for good. The hogshead shrank to the barrel 
and the barrel to the jug and pocket flask. 

While the quantity consumed now is but a decimal of sixty years 
ago, intemperance has not diminished in the same proportion. Stimu- 
lants palatable but poisonous, tempt the young and deprave the appetite. 

COMING AND GOING. 

From 1775 to 1800 single men and men with families moved from 
the older towns of southeastern New Hampshire, and Massachusetts 
towns near the mouth of the Merrimac River, to the new town of Par- 
sonsfield. The movement ceased almost entirely within the closing 
century. Within ten years after the tide of population commenced to 
flow from Parsonsfield into central and eastern Maine. Children of 
Esq. Parsons, Dea. Garland, Nathan Wiggin and others, located in 
Winslow and vicinity. The Bickford, Piper, Morrison and Pease fami- 
lies peopled in part, towns west of Bangor. This eastern outflow ceased 
about 1820. 

About this date factories were built in New Hampshire and Mass- 
achusetts, which gave employment to large numbers of male and female 
laborers. The inhabitants of these rapidly growing villages must be 
fed, and the outlying country furnished most of the food up to the day 
of railroads. 

In the spring our young men with packs strapped to their shoulders 
wended their way to these villages and garden farms, getting at first 
eight then twelve to fifteen dollars per month. 

They returned in the fall dressed in new broadcloth, and a long 
watch chain swinging from the fob. Girls crowded to the factories, 
earned many dollars, spent a part for nicer garments, and a moiety to 
adorn the homes of the mother. The earnings of these young adven- 
turers lifted many a family to comparative ease and competence. Do 
not imagine that these wage-workers of sixty years ago were the slums 
14 



2IO HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

of society. They belonged to energetic families, and many of them be- 
came the leading men and women of their day. It is safe to affirm that 
there gathers not in city theater or concert hall a sprightlier look- 
ing or better behaved company of ladies, than they who then plied 
the shuttle in our factories. 

Factories and the resulting travel led to the introduction of stage- 
coaches. Aline from Effingham through West Parsonsfield to Dover 
was well patronized. A few years later stages from Portland and 
Saco passed through the town. Then followed five new post-offices 
with tri-weekly mails. The Parsonsfield post-office was established in 
1798. A little old man, on a little dark horse with a meagre mail bag 
across the saddle, came jogging into town Saturday afternoon year after 
year. 

HORSES. 

If we are allowed to draw conclusions from incidental remarks made 
by old people, the inference is that a majority of middle-aged men 
among our early immigrants brought horses with them; but that the 
larger half of young men did not keep a horse at the start. 

Horses of one hundred years ago, and even forty years later, were 
small, plump, rough-coated and hardy. In breeding, stamina was of the 
first importance. Colts were not pampered. Horses were worked on 
the farm alone, and also used before oxen. The usual gait of horses 
was a canter for horseback riding, whether carrying one or two persons. 
Pacers were popular and sometimes fast. The feed of horses was grass 
in summer, and hay in winter. They did not often get provender, or 
even grooming. Unless accidentally lamed, they were usually sound 
up to thirty years or past. 

cows. 

Every farmer had more or less cows — from one to fifteen. They 
were not of any particular breed, but selected for milk and butter. On 
June feed a good cow would fill a ten-quart pail at night. Cows were 
about five feet in girth, while oxen lined six feet and occasionally six 
feet six inches. The cattle of that age were not symmetrical, and but 
little pains was taken to match steers. Nothing was thought of three 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 2 I I 

inches advantage in an ox yoke, or divers colors in oxen. Harvey 
Page made the first innovation by bringing into town a Durham bull, 
in 1833, and not many years after the Durhams were common in all 
parts of the town. Some fifteen years after Devons were introduced, 
but at this date Herefords are the popular breed. Jerseys are seen 
here and there, but the slow sales of country butter check the increase 
of this stock. 

SHEEP. 

For half a century sheep were to be found on every farm, but since 
people ceased to manufacture their own clothing, flocks of sheep have 
been growing smaller till now few are seen. It is admitted that on our 
hill farms sheep are the most profitable stock kept, but most difiicult to 
keep in place. 

SWINE. 

The hogs of olden days were long-legged, lank and sharp-nosed. The 
major part of farmers wintered two or more, adding as many pigs in 
the spring. They had the freedom of the dooryard, highway, orchard 
and woods. After harvest they were fed with corn to gain a streak of 
fat and a leaf of lard. 

PROGRESS. 

A very little house painting was indulged in as early as 1812, but it 
is doubtful if a single one was painted outside and in earlier than 1820. 

The favorite colors were red and yellow for outside preservation, 
and sky blue for inside decoration. The tidy housewife still scoured 
the unpainted table, and swept the sanded floor into herring-bone. 

Early in the century a four-wheeled vehicle called a Rattler was 
brought to town by Moses Mighels, and not long after Jacob Banks 
bought one. It presaged the modern wagon. The chaise came into 
use about 1820. William D. Dixon brought many of them from Ames- 
bury. The story goes that when Mighels came to the North Road 
with his carriage on Sunday, more than half the men and boys staid 
out of meeting to examine and discuss the "flimsey notion." 



2 12 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



MARKETS. 



The new business enterprises that were started about the time the 
district of Maine became a State, led to the opening of markets for all 
kinds of farm products, and as there were no railroads for some years, 
farmers furnished most of the supplies therefor. 



CHAPTER VI. 



CHUKCHES AND MINISTERS. 



Many of the early settlers of Parsonsfield were church members 
before their removal to this wilderness. They belonged principally to 
the sects known as Congregationalists, Baptists, and Freewill Bap- 
tists. For several years they were too scattered to maintain stated 
gospel ordinances. Itinei^ant preachers, mostly Free Baptists, traveled 
from place to place, holding meetings in private houses, barns and 
groves. Elder Benjamin Randall, and other pioneers of the denomina- 
tion, occasionally held services within our borders. 

Up to the time Maine came under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, 
Episcopacy was the established religion. Thence Congregationalism was 
the religion of the State. At the time Parsonsfield was settled all sects 
were tolerated and protected. The government assumed that all cit- 
izens should assist in supporting the preaching of the gospel. Every 
man was free to choose his denominational home, but unless he claimed 
another home he was taxed for the support of the Congregational min- 
ister of the town. Popular sentiment was opposed to this law, and to 
evade it those not religiously inclined called -themselves Baptists, for 
the reason that Baptist ministers did not receive a regular salary. 

The Shapleigh proprietors made provision for a Congregationalist 
meeting in town. This implied a tax for the support of a minister. 
To avoid the tax, the opponents of the law opposed building a meeting- 
house and settling a minister. Failing, they suddenly became Baptists 
in name. 

The Congregational society was incorporated in 1S09, with thirty- 
one members. In 1810 it had twenty-seven members. The Baptist 
society was incorporated later, but the time and number of members 
we are unable to ascertain. The Freewill Baptist society was incor- 
porated in 1809 with ninety-one members. 

After 1802 each society provided for its own minister. 



214 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY. 

The agreement between Thomas Parsons and the Shapleigh proprie- 
tors reads in brief : that after reserving for themselves and heirs eighty 
lots marked on the plan — a mill privilege — lots for the support of 
schools, three lots for the sole use of the first settled Congregational 
minister, and three for the use of the ministry, "we do hereby give and 
grant all the claim, interest, title and. estate, said proprietors have in 
the remainder and residue of the land in said township, to Thomas Par- 
sons upon conditions. First, the settlement of families, and in seven 
years erect, board and shingle a house thirty by forty feet for the wor- 
ship of God, procure the gospel to be preached in said place, and pro- 
vide for the support thereof; in case of war the time is extended." 

This grant is dated December 23, 1774. The war closed in 1783. 
The house known as Rolfe's Meeting House was erected, 1790, by 
Thomas Parsons. 

By the laws of Massachusetts then in force, the town was the parish, 
and all citizens had the right to vote in parish matters. A majority of 
the voters were not Congregationalists. Denominational acrimony 
was so prevalent that the frame stood uncovered four years. The 
friends and opponents in the mean time passing and rescinding a variety 
of votes. In 1791, the house was finished at the expense of the pew 
holders. 

Rolfe's Meeting House was located near the highway east of the 
present church, remaining more than forty years, and being in its later 
days, the greatest curiosit}' in town. It was two stories high, lighted 
by forty-eight windows, galleries on three sides, the pulpit half-way to 
the beams, with a huge sounding-board. 

In 1792, Rev. Jeremiah Shaw was invited to settle, but declined. 
The next year the Rev. Mr. Anderson declined the like offer. In 
1791, Rev. Benjamin Rolfe accepted a call, at a salary of forty pounds, 
one-third cash, the remainder in corn or other produce. 

A small church was organized January 11, 1795, and Mr. Rolfe 
ordained as pastor the same day. 

The ministers present were Rev. Daniel Little, Rev. John Turner 
and Rev. Samuel Hidden. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 215 

Mr. Rolfe continued to preach till May 31, 1815. He died at Par- 
sonsfield December 7, 1817, aged sixt3'-t\vo years. 

Mr. Rolfe was born in Newbury, graduated at Harvard, 1777. He 
was a strict moralist in theory and practice, an exemplary Christian, a 
close student and thoroughly educated, especially in the Classics. His 
style of speaking and writing, showed more knowlege of books than 
men. His reasoning powers were of a high order, but his perceptive 
faculties were defective. Eccentric in his manners and quite absent 
minded, his peculiarities unfitted him for large usefulness in his field 
of labor. The dwelling at Middle Road, known as the Mclntire house, 
was built for Mr. Rolfe in 1794. 

A Congregational society was incorporated by the General Court of 
Massachusetts, on petition of Thomas Parsons and twenty-seven others, 
February 27, 1802, with the right to control all real estate reserved 
by the Shapleigh proprietors in their deed to Thomas Parsons, for the 
support of the Congregational ministry. The adverse claims of the 
town and society to these three lots and to the ownership of the meet- 
ing-house, led to years of litigation, the result of which was, the society 
held the house and the avails of one lot of land, while the town was 
made custodian of the other two lots, the court holding that the word 
congregational had reference to church polity rather than doctrinal 
opinions. 

The money affairs of the parish are managed by an incorporated 
Board, known as the Trustees of the Congregational Ministerial Fund. 
The annual income is about seventy-five dollars, which is expended for 
preaching. 

The little church formed in 1795, was reduced in numbers during 
Mr. Rolfe's pastorate. After his death the records could not be found. 
The society records refer to ministers who supplied occasionally. Sept. 
14, 1823 the church was re-organized, with fourteen members, Samuel 
Garland was chosen deacon and served till his death, March 5, 1855. 
He was the stay and staff of the church while he lived. "Old Puritan" 
was the hardest name ever given him. The church records show a 
rapid increase of members up to 1840, after this date, a gradual loss 
by emigration. From June, 1825 to 1827, Rev. Henry T. Kelley 
preached half the time, alternating with Newfield From September 1828 



2l6 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Charles S. Adams two years. David P. Smith two years, from July, 
1832. Mr. Smith was succeeded by John H. Mordough of Effingham. 
November, 10, 1838, Samuel Ordway was ordained, preaching here all the 
time for three years. Mr. Ordway had a second pastorate during 1854 
— 55 of two years. Rev. Elias Chapman supplied from 1849 to 1852. 
Mr. Chapman was accounted a model minister, making and holding 
many personal friends. Though a quiet every -day man his influence for 
good is yet bearing fruit. Other ministers for short periods have been 
here. N. W. Sheldon, 1857 ; Thomas N. Lord, 1875 ; David L. Jones, 
1878 ; Jona Edwards, 1879 and 1881 ; Amos Redlon, 1883 ; W. S. Wade 
in 1886. 

While some of the stories told about Rev. Mr. Rolfe were not strictly 
accurate, or should be credited to some other absent-minded minister, 
yet it is probably true that he did ride home the wrong horse ; that he 
certified that a candidate he had just rejected as a teacher in Parsons- 
field.^ was qualified to teach in Porter ; that he did bring from the store 
the requisite number of yards of ribbon, when asked by his carpenter 
for strips called ribands to fasten the boards on his barn ; that when he 
found a drunken law-student mowing his wheat and yelling, "The 
Lord said the fields are white for the harvest," the parson with fishing- 
pole in hand called out "The Lord said smite," and down came the pole 
on the culprit's head. 

Mr. Rolfe was riding horseback intently musing. His horse turned 
up to the bars of a barnyard and stopped. The farmer came out and 
bade his minister good-day. After some delay the parson lifted his 
head and inquired, "Jacob, Jacob, why is this highway fenced up?" 
The story of the green bay horse in his sermon is probably credited to 
the wrong man. 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

In 'February 1788, Rev. Samuel Weeks removed from Gilmanton to 
East Parsonsfield, and soon after commenced preaching there, and in the 
vicinity. From the narrative of Elder Buzzell, and other sources, it is 
inferred, that a church was organized there in 1785, by Elders Randall 
and Weeks. Mr. Weeks continued to preach, and cultivate his farm, 
up to January 1793 ; at which time, he got lost in the woods, returning 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 21 7 

from a meeting in Porter, and was severely frozen. He never recov- 
ered from the effects of this exposure. Elder Weeks was born in 
Greenland, N. H., November 21, 1746, bred a mechanic, ordained 
pastor of the Baptist church in Gilmanton, June 15, 1780, united with 
the Freewill Baptists after he came to Parsonsfield, died June, 1832. 

Elder Weeks was six feet four inches tall, with broad shoulders, and 
full voice. A single anecdote will show the kind of man he was. On 
his way to meet an appointment in Limerick, he came to a bridge 
upon which two men were standing. They told him to " go home, for 
he was no minister, and could not pass." He quietly turned his horse 
but soon returned, bearing aloft a stake, calling out, " The Lord told 
me to go to Durgin's and preach. If you attempt to stop me I will 
split your heads." The men stepped aside. 

There are scraps of information, respecting this first church, but no 
reliable records. It is known that Gilman Lougee was Deacon till his 
death in 1788, and that Elder Levi Chadbourn, a Baptist minister, who 
lived near the Lougee schoolhouse, preached in an unfinished meeting- 
house, situated near the northeast corner of Liston B. Merrill's farm, 
on the road that then ran aslant the hill. In a deed still preserved, 
dated June 20, 1789, Isaac Burnham of Ipswich " for the sum of five 
shillings, paid by the Wardens of the Baptist society in Parsonsfield, 
quit claims to said wardens, one fourth acre of land, on which their 
meeting-house stands." 

It is probable that in after years, a majority of the acting members 
of this first church became Freewill Baptists and took the church into 
that denomination. 

It seems that eight members of the church, which was formed at 
East Parsonsfield, in or about 1785, invited Elder John Buzzell of Mid- 
dleton, to become their minister. He arrived April 4, 1798. After 
stopping a few months, he removed to North Parsonsfield. About 1801, 
his parishioners purchased fifty acres of land for a parsonage, and built 
him the house in which he lived and died, still known as the " Elder 
Buzzell house." This farm was his private property. 

Mr. Buzzell gradually extended his field of labor, to other parts of 
Parsonsfield, and into other towns. Within twenty years, this church 
had branches at East and South Parsonsfield, Lord's Mills, the Gore, 



2l8 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Effingham and Porter, numbering in all nearly three hundred mem- 
bers. At one period the Elder made the circuit, and held meetings 
about once in four weeks, either on the Sabbath, or during the week. 
The church members made it a rule to attend these local meetings and 
take part in the exercises. 

ELDER JOHN BUZZELL. 

More than fifty years' service as a gospel minister in Parsonsfield, 
would of itself entitle Elder Buzzell to especial notice in a history of 
the churches, while the commanding influence he exerted in molding 
the political and religious opinions of the people, renders him even 
more conspicuous. A friend says of him,* "His attainments were 
above the average, early becoming a teacher of common schools ; 
and in after years he improved every opportunity to acquire knowledge. 
He wrote the Life of Elder Benjamin Randall, also was the first edi- 
tor of the Morning Star, which position he held for seven years, pub- 
lished the first religious magazine in the denomination, was instrumen- 
tal in establishing the Orissa Mission, and, with Dr. Moses Sweat and 
Hon. Rufus Mclntire, founded the first school in the denomination, 
North Parsonsfield Seminary. 

Established at North Parsonsfield over a large and flourishing church, 
yet he traveled much, heeding the command, "Go ye into all the 
world and preach the Gospel," his itineracy extending over portions 
of all the New England States, and even the Canadas. He thus exerted 
an influence that was potent for good, and that will be perpetuated 
down the ages. 

As a preacher he was bold in declaring the truths of the Gospel, forci- 
ble in the denunciation of sin and error, dignified in his demeanor, 
yet in spirit humble, with sympathies keen and active, ever ready to 
"weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice." 

He had a wonderful power of holding mixed audiences in admiration 
and sympathy, and exerting an uplifting and controlling influence over 
the minds of men. 

He was "gathered to his fathers" from his old home in North Parsons- 
field, at the advanced age of ninety -five years, clothed with the honors 

•Rev. L. T. Staples. 




^ 



^ irA^y^ ^ 



Rev. JOHN BUZZELL. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 219 

of a well-spent life, and a simple marble slab marks the resting-place of 
this noble old "Herald of the Cross." 

July 3, 1822, the East Parsonsfield branch was organized into a sepa- 
rate chuBch, and the South Parsonsfield one became an independent 
church July 15, 1830. 

BAST PARSONSFIELD FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH, ORGANIZED JULY 

3, 1822. 

Elder Christopher Bullock, an aged man, was the first pastor. He 
died April 18, 1824. Then sundry teachers supplied the desk for six 
years. Rev. J. Fernald was pastor from 1830 to 1836. He was suc- 
ceeded by John O. Hackett, J. W. Hubbard, James Rand, Uriah Chase 
and Z. Jordan, each one or two years. G. W. Whitney came for five 
years from 1856. Then for two years each, P. Caverly and G. W. 
Gould ministered to the people. In 1865, E. Cook preached, and later 
E. Brewer. About 1883, Francis W. Towne supplied one year. Since 
Mr. Towne there have not been regular services. Present membership, 
thirty-one. 

FREE BAPTIST CHURCH, SO. PARSONSFIELD, ORGANIZED JULY 15, 1830. 

Rev. Andrew T. Foss was the first minister. He remained two years. 
Mr. Foss was a young man possessing much native talent. He did not 
strictly follow the customs of the early fathers, neither did he press 
innovations. Rev. Daniel Jackson was the second minister, preaching 
nearly two years. He was a man of quite pleasing address and univers- 
ally respected. From July, 1838 to October, 1839 Carlton Small, Ami 
R. Bradbury, and Thomas M. Preble had charge. Elder Zechariah 
Jordan closed a pastorate of five years, May, 1846. Mr. Jordan was 
a worthy man. J. W. Woodman supplied one year. 

Rev. Z. Jordan was recalled for one year, then William T. Smith 
officiated till October, 1852. Rev. Charles O. Libby came in Novem- 
ber, 1852, and remained till May, 1860. Mr. Libby was born in Gor- 
ham, received a good education, was engaged in secular business sev- 
eral years before entering the ministry. After leaving Parsonsfield he 
was the efficient secretary of the Free Baptist Foreign Mission Society. 
Elders Charles Bean and G. W. Whitney each supplied one year, then 



2 20 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

O. F. Russell and Arthur Caverno two years each ; Francis W. Towne 
from April, 1866 to April, 1870. C. B. Peckham succeeded, remaining 
three years, Porter S. Burbank one year. W. Lamprey was pastor in 
1874, and his successors have been F. C. Bradeen, J. Q. Adams, Rev. L. 
G. Clark and Mr. Blaisdell, who is the present pastor. Membership one 
hundred and twenty-five. 

The first meeting-house was a low one-story building, standing where 
the schoolhouse is. It was "erected early in the century. A new house 
was built 1840 and renovated 1872. 

NOETH PARSONSFIELD CHURCH. 

On the 27th day of April, 1856, thirteen persons met and were formed 
into a church by Rev. B. S. Manson and G. W. Whitney, taking the 
name of the North Parsonsfield Free Baptist Church. Samuel Moulton 
and John Blazo were chosen deacons and Ira A. Philbrick clerk. The 
next Sabbath ten joined by baptism and others by letter making thirty- 
seven in all. 

After the formation of the new church Mr. Manson continued his 
labors till November following. Rev. Charles Hurlin supplied from 
1857 to 1860. Mr. G. S. Bradbury was ordained here in 1860, when a 
pastorate of five years followed. After, Mr. Hurlin had a second term 
of one year. He was followed by Benjamin Moody and E. C. Cook. 
During 1876 and 1877, Rev. Mr. Gowen ministered, followed by Thomas 
F. Millett, who preached two years. Rev. L. H. Winslow was called 
April, 1885, for one year. i 

There was a rude unfinished meeting-house, near the northeast corner 
of Listen B. Merrill's farm, built about 1790 and occupied occasionally 
till 1804, when the large and imposing church, known as "Elder Buz- 
zell's church," was finished. This last was burnt by an incendiary, July, 
1859. The present house was built 1853. 

OLD SCHOOL FREE BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The Freewill Baptist denomination was an offshoot from the Bap- 
itists, on the question of "Freedom of the will." There grew out from 
this starting point many opinions and practices, differing from the theo- 
jies and customs of other churches. The early ministers were earnest 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 221 

energetic men, and were sincere and firm believers in the teachings of 
the Bible. 

About 1837, dissensions about modes of worship and other matters 
arising within the Parsonsfield Quarterly Meeting, some of the min- 
isters and churches withdrew by permission and formed the Lim- 
ington Quarterly Meeting. Elder Jeremiah Bullock was the leader of 
this band of believers. Those withdrawing in or about 1837 and form- 
ing the Limington Quarterly Meeting have ever professed to hold to 
the fundamental doctrines as enunciated by the father of the denomina- 
tion, Elder Benjamin Randall. They have churches in various towns, 
and one located near East Parsonsfield. They have prospered by a 
steady growth of numbers. 

BAPTIST CHURCH. 

Many of the first settlers were Baptists in sentiment, but as the line 
between Calvinists and Freewill was not then distinctly drawn, we 
cannot say how many inclined to this or that wing. Elder Levi Chad- 
bourne preached and baptised in different neighborhoods, but we find 
no trace of a church until September 12, 1796, when the first regular 
Baptist church was formed at the house of David Marston. The names 
of David Marston, Levi Chadbourne, N. Knox, Caleb Marston, Dr. Will- 
iam Taylor, Joseph Towle, Went worth Lord, and several others are 
recorded. As dates of admission are not given, the number of original 
members cannot be stated. There were more than two hundred admis- 
sions before 1835, gathered from Parsonsfield, Newfield, Effingham, and 
other towns. The first meeting-house was near the house of John Neal. 
The second at Middle Road village, built in 1834, remaining till 1884. 
They have a fund of one thousand dollars donated by will of Perkins. 

Mr. Chadbourne continued to preach up to 1803. He was a popular 
speaker and gathered many into the church. In 1791 the church voted 
to give "Brother Wentworth Lord and Brother William Taylor appro- 
bation to preach." Mr. Wentworth Lord was ordained August, 1803, 
and was the regular pastor till 1833. He was diligent in his calling, a 
devoted Christian, a man universally reverenced, living to the ripe age 
of eighty-nine years. Mr. Lord was succeeded by Parker L. Fogg one 
year, William N. Hanson three years. Charles H. Green was ordained 



22 2 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

July 4, 1838 and labored successfully several years. He left in 1844. 
Several short pastorates have followed. 

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH. 

Those members of the Baptist Church living west of Ricker's Moun- 
tain, asked for and were granted permission to become an independent 
church. The church was established March 12, 1838. Soon after 
they became independent, they lost by death and emigration some of 
their leading members, which so reduced them that they were unable 
to maintain regular Sabbath worship. A church was built on Ricker's 
Mountain which was later the dwelling of Dea. Dominicus Richer, and 
afterward a union meeting-house was built on the Newfield road, about 
half a mile south of the present one. The Baptists and others occupied 
it for a few years, but like most other union houses it then ceased to be 
occupied by any one. Little by little this church and society fell to 
pieces, and is not now reported. They have a fund* but no one to 
take care of it. 

CHRISTIAN ADVENT SOCIETY. 

This society may be called the successor of the Second Baptist, as 
they entered into the field once occupied by that church. It originated 
in a series of meetings held by D. W. Stevens in 1869. Rev. Mark 
Stevens became pastor. A new union meeting-house was built, 1872, in 
which there has been preaching part of the time. D. W. Stevens was 
ordained here July 4, 1876. A society with twelve members was 
formed August 4, 1877. 

UNIVERSALISTS. 

This denomination have a society, formed within a few years, in the 
southwest part of the town. They are connected with those of like 
faith in Effingham. Their house of worship is just over the State line 
and near the "Taylor City" so called. It was built 1870. They are 
favored with a preacher part of the time. 

*0ne thousand dollars donated under the will of James Marston. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 2 23 

THE FRIENDS. 

We have a brief but interesting account of the Society of Friends, 
from the pen of S. H. Cartland. He says that : — 

"The first meeting of Friends held in this town was not far from the 
year 1798. Edward Cobb and wife were the first ministers of the 
denomination in town. The first meeting-house was built in 1838, and 
the number of members at that date was twenty. There has been a 
gradual increase of membership to the present time, so that our monthly 
conference now numbers one hundred or very nearly. The number of 
ministers at the present time, six. The religious interest is good and 
increasing among the members. The meeting is now established at the 
village at East Parsonsfield." 

The division of the ministerial money in 1848 shows the relative 
strength of the religious societies. Elder John Buzzell's, one hundred 
and twenty-four voters ; South Parsonsfield fifty-seven ; East Parsons- 
field, fifty-two ; Old School Baptists, thirty-nine ; First Regular Bapt- 
ist, forty-two ; Second Baptist, fifty-two. The Friends and Congrega- 
tionalists did not apply for a share. 

In 1865, only the amounts severally paid are given : Old School 
Baptists, eleven dollars and twenty-four cents ; South Parsonsfield, ten 
dollars and seventy-one cents ; East Parsonsfield, six dollars and seventy 
eight cents ; North Parsonsfield, four dollars and seven cents ; First 
Regular Baptist, five dollars and forty-two cents ; Second Regular 
Baptist, eight dollars and fourteen cents ; Congregational, three dollars 
and sixty-six cents. 

MINISTERS. 

There were four churclies in Parsonsfield in the year 1800, and six 
at the present date, not counting societies, or church members whose 
house of worship is in another town. The average number of ministers 
preaching in town since 1800 may have been about four. During the 
first years of the century the pastorates were for life, but for the last 
fifty years stated supplies have not remained more than two years on 
the average. Not less than one hundred and fifty clergymen have 
occupied the pulpits in Parsonsfield. As the churches have not kept 
a record of their names and time of service we are obliged to rely upon 
ndirect mention and memory. 



2 24 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Other ministers not employed for stated periods have labored in 
town successfully. It is presumed that Elder Benjamin Randall was the 
first of this class. Elders Tingley, Jeremiah and Wescott Bullock, Sam- 
uel Burbank, Benjamin Bridges, Robinson, David House, F. F. Rice, 

W. H. Cotton, Thomas Strout, Loring T. Staples and others are entitled 
to honorable mention. Neither should we overlook Friend Edward 
Cobb in early years ; the Cartland family later, and Friend Charles C. 
Varney at this time. 

Several of the teachers connected with the Academy preached some- 
where on the Sabbath. 

Other towns have furnished the religious teachers of Parsonsfield, 
with one or two possible exceptions. What has Parsonsfield done in 
return ? The names of Joseph Ricker, d. d., Moses M. Smart, d. d., 
John M. Parsons, Edmund and Joseph Garland, Thomas and Charles 
H. Emerson, William R. Thompson, James Rand, Charles H. Hilton, 
Albert S. Hill, Edward Colcord, and several other natives of the town, 
most of whose names are enrolled among college graduates, while many 
more not thus honored have dispensed messages of pardon and peace. 

Neither do we forget the scores of fair daughters who have become 
co-laborers of clergymen, even though we are notable to call them by 
name. 



<^ ^ "f \ 9i 



^ 



CHAPTER VII. 

When Parsonsfield was surveyed in 1771, Mr. Cram, the surveyor, 
dre\y a plan of the town which has been preserved. The plan and 
field notes were copied into the Clerk's book of records by James Hart. 
The map here inserted is a copy reduced to one inch to the mile. The 
lots reserved by the Shapleigh proprietors for themselves are marked 
G ; lots for the first minister marked, first minister ; for ministry marked, 
ministry ; for grammar school, so marked ; for mill, M. P. The names 
of owners given in this list show what lots were drawn by individual 
proprietors as well as lots purchased of Mr. Parsons. Blanks appar- 
ently indicate parcels still owned by him. The exact date is not known, 
probably soon after the town was organized. 

The Gore has never been lotted. The line passes through the house 
of Isaac Libby, crosses the highway west of J. W. Trueworthy's house, 
runs south of the homestead of Andrew Edgecomb. 



Lot Owner 

1 .Joseph Hubbard. 

2 Joseph Granville. 

3 Brad Doe. 

4 Grammar School. 

5 James Sanborn. 

6 John Brown. 



RANGE ONE. 

Lot Owner 

7 ,Tohn Brown. 

8 Philip Hubbard. 

9 John Sanborn. 

10 Daniel Moulton. 

11 Samuel Shapleigh. 

12 Bickford. 



Lot Own er 

13 Alonzo Scamman. 

14 Mighells. 

15 Thomas Scamnan. 

16 Eben Moore. 

17 John Moore. 

18 .John Moore. 
19 



Lot Owner. 

19 

20 

21 Common School. 

22 First Minister. 

23 Samuel Pease. 

24 James Morrison. 

15 



RANGE TWO 

Lot Owner 

25 Elisha Piper. 

26 George Bickford. 

27 Dudley Hilton. 

28 Tobias Fernald. 

29 Joseph Parsons. 
80 Joseph Parsons. 



Lot Owner 

31 Stephen Parsons. 

32 Stephen Parsons. 

33 John Doe. 

34 John Doe. 

35 James Marston. 

36 Nathaniel Ames. 

37 Andrew Hilton. 



^^ ^ ^/^ 



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o 



>V 



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Fold-out 
aceholder 



; being digitized, and will be inserted at a future date. 



226 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



EANGE THREE. 



Lot Owner 

38 Col. Chesley. 

39 Gideon Doe. 

40 Gideon Doe. 

41 Jere Avery. 

42 Nathaniel Pease. 

43 -^ — Leavitt. 



Lot Owner 

57 Saward. 

58 Thomas Parsons, Jr. 

59 Thomas Parsons, Jr. 

60 William Parsons. 

61 Noah Scamman. 

62 Nathan Rosers. 



Lot Owner 


Lot Owner 


44 Nathan Wiggin, 


50 Rev. Alpheus Spring 


45 Nathaniel Remick. 


51 Ministry. 


46 Aug. Chase. 


62 Edward Cutts. 


47 Lot Wedgewood. 


53 


48 Dudley Hilton. 


64 


49 Zebulou Pease. 


55 




56 John Page. 


EANGE FOUR. 




Lot Owner 


Lot Owner 


63 Dep. Shapleigh. 


69 Garland. 


64 Patrick Tracy. 


70 


65 Edmund Chase. 


71 Nathaniel Pease. 


66 Moulton. 


72 John Shapleigh. 


67 Jona Colcord. 


73 John Doe, Jr. 


68 Garland. 


74 Samuel Page. 




76 Samuel Pase. 



Lot Owner 

75 Samuel Page. 

76 Robert Brown. 

77 Sanborn & Hunt. 

78 First Minister. 

79 Captain Garvin. 

80 Captain Garvin. 



RANGE FIVE. 

Lot Owner 

81 Garland. 

82 Brown. 

83 James Sullivan. 

84 Samuel Moulton. 

85 Captain John Frost. 

86 Taylor Page. 



Lot Owner 

87 Winthrop Wiggin. 

88 Winthrop Wiggin. 

89 John Goodwin. 

90 Simon Jennis. 
91 

92 Colonel Moulton. 

93 William Stacy. 



Lot Owner 

94 James Fernald. 

95 Major Shapleigh. 

96 Robert Rogers. 

97 Patrick Tracy. 

98 Robert Rogers. 
99 



RANGE SIX. 
Lot Owner 

100 Wint. Wiggin. 

101 Wint. Wiggin. 

102 Wint. Wiggin. 

103 Wint. Wiggin. 

104 David Moulton. 

105 John Goodwin. 



Lot Owner 

106 James Segel. 

107 Walter Neal. 

108 Simon Jennes. 

109 Alex Scamman. 

110 William Keon. 

111 Saward. 

112 Samuel Maloon. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



227 



Lot Owner 

112 Samuel Maloon. 

113 

114 

115 

116 Jonah Colcord. 

117 William Frost. 

118 Joseph Parsons. 

Lot Owner 

131 

132 William Parsons. 

133 Patrick Tracy. 

134 Nathaniel Bartlett. 

135 Gilman Lougee. 
13G John Lougee. 



RANGE SEVEN. 
Lot Owner 

119 Samuel Dalton. 

120 Jona Kinsman. 
121*Jona Kinsman. 

122 Nathaniel Remick. 

123 James Shapleigh. 

124 Patrick Tracy. 

125 Humphry Scamman. 

RANGE EIGHT. 

Lot Owner 

137 Captain Gammon. 

138 Jacob Scagel. 

139 Robert Spring. 

140 Jona Kinsman. 

141 Jona Kinsman. 

142 John Mudgett. 



Lot Owner 

126 

127 

128 Samuel Stacy. 

129 William Parsons. 

130 Samuel Lougee. 



Lot Owner 

143 Soloman Kenison. 

144 S. Gilman. 
145 

146 

147 Colcord & Champion. 

148 



Lot Owner 

149 Dea. Hobbs. 

150 William Frost. 

151 Philip Hubbard. 

152 Edmund Chase. 

153 Amos Blazo. 

154 Jona Chadbourne. 



Lot Owner 

167 William Leighton. 

168 Major Shapleigh. 
169 

170 Dr. Daniel Pease. 

171 

172 Ministry. 



Lot Owner 

185 

186 John Hill. 

187 

188 John Bartlett. 

189 Patrick Tracy. 
190 James Shapleigh. 



RANGE NINE. 
Lot Owner 

155 Jona Moulton. 

156 Dr. Daniel Pease. 

157 Edward Cutts, Esq. 
158 

159 James Gowen. 

160 Grammar School. 

RANGE TEN. 

Lot Owner 

173 .Joseph Hubbard. 

174 James Gowen. 

175 Mill Privilege. 

176 John Hill. 

177 Tobias Fernald. 

178 Enoch Libby. 

RANGE ELEVEN. 

Lot Owner 

191 Philip Paine. 

192 John Frost. 

193 Samuel Stacy. 

194 Dennis Durell. 

195 Patrick Tracy. 
196 Moses Ham. 



Lot Owner 

161 Ministry. 

162 Capt. Wm. Rogers. 

163 Nathaniel Scamman. 

164 Patrick Tracy. 

165 Patrick Tracy. 

166 Patrick Tracy. 



Lot Owner 

179 Amos Blazo. 

180 Jona Towle. 

181 Moses Leighton. 

182 Samuel Leighton 

183 William Stacy. 

184 William Rogers. 



Lot Owner 

197 Nathan Bartlett. 

198 George Kezar. 

199 Patrick Tracy. 

200 Elisha Shapleigh. 

201 Benjamin Brown. 
202 Benjamin Brown. 



*Lot 121, ten acres, in northeast corner get apart for a training field and burying ground. 



228 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



Lot 0«'ner 

203 Benjamin Brown. 

204 Benjamin Brown. 

205 Patrick Tracy. 
206 

207 Samuel Leighton. 

208 First Minister. 



RANGE TWELVE. 
Lot Owner 

20D George Kezar. 

210 William Leighton. 

211 Patrick Tracy. 

212 George Kezar. 

213 Depend. Shapleigh. 

214 Capt. John Shapleigh. 



Lot Ovmer 

215 Samuel Shapleigh. 

216 Samuel Shapleigh. 
217 

218 William Parsons. 

219 Patrick Tracy. 

220 Patrick Tracy. 



MILITARY. 

At the time of the Revolutionary war many soldiers returned after 
the British had been driven from New England, without money, and 
often without decent clothing. Wishing to settle down in homes of 
their own, numbers were attracted to Parsonsfield. In getting their 
names we are compelled to rely upon tradition. 

The early colonists were compelled to be ever ready for wMr, and 
were often called to engage in bloody struggles. These wars and nec- 
essary preparations intensified the military spirit. The law required 
every able-bodied man from eighteen to forty-five years of age to meet 
for company drill annually, on the first Tuesday in Ma}-, and also two 
or three times during the fall months. Some time in October all the 
companies within a given territory met for regimental review. The 
first gathering for inspection was near the top of Merrill's Hill, Colonel 
Jonathan Kinsman commanding. The regiment in later years consisted 
of five companies from Parsonsfield, two from Newfield, and two from 
Cornish. 

General muster was the exciting event of the year. The only uni- 
versal holiday, when men and boys, women and children, from four- 
score to the cradle, gathered from far and near, before the morning dew 
left the grass, to see, hear, and have a good time generally. 

As wars became less frequent, the interest in trainings grew luke- 
warm, until in 1841 these gatherings ceased to be required. 

During the war of 1812, the militia of the town were called out for 
short periods to defend our sea-coast. As that war was one of posts 
rather than field operations no large army was required, and but few 
of our citizens entered the service of the general government. Tlieir 
names are not remembered. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 229 

It is not known that any soldiers went into the Mexican war from 
here, excepting Edwin A. Wliitten, who was commissioned as Lieu- 
tenant. 

The Civil war which raged from 1861 to 1865 will long be remem- 
bered. Parsonsfield is credited with one hundred and eighty-five sol- 
diers. Fifty of these were substitutes, and thirty-seven not residents 
of the town, leaving ninety-eight citizens who entered the army. 
Thirty-six of these ninety-eight enlisted for nine months, the others 
for one or three years. Town bounties were paid to eighty-three sol- 
diers and fifty citizens who furnished substitutes. 

A few extracts from the records will show the action of the town 
during these years. 

At a special meeting June 3, 1862, it was "voted to furnish aid to 
the fa nilies of soldiers when in need." State aid amounting to one thou- 
sand, seven hundred and ninety-four dollars was furnished to fort}'- 
one families, and the amount repaid by the state. 

To fill the call of July 2, 1862, the town "voted a bounty of one hun- 
dred dollars to each volunteer." Tlie quota was twenty-four, and only 
eight responded. 

September 8, 1862, "voted to pay a bounty of two hundred each to 
fill the quota of thirty-six nine months' men." The quota was filled 
and the bounty paid. 

December 14, 1863, "voted to pay a bounty of three hundred dollars 
to fill the call of October 17, for twenty-eight men, and for deficiency in 
draft of July 9, 1863." 

February 22, 1864, "voted to pay twenty-five dollars in addition to 
state bounty of three hundred dollars." Number of men required, ten. 

September 24, 1834, "voted to raise eighteen thousand dollars to fill 
the call of July 18, 1864, and seven tliousand to meet deficiencies." 
Fifty men were raised. 

December 19, 1864, for twenty men, eight enlisted but did not go. 

Bounties paid, forty-four thousand, nine hundred and twenty-seven 
dollars ; reimbursed by state 1869, nine thousand, eight dollars and 
thirty-three cents, leaving a balance of thirty-five thousand, nine hun- 
dred and eighteen dollars and sixty-six cents, which balance was paid 
by the town. 



230 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

COLONEL JOSEPH PARSONS. 

The story comes down to us, that when Colonel Joseph Parsons, who 
was every inch an officer, commanded the regiment, he established his 
rear picket line not far from a stone wall, and paraded the troops near 
that line. The day was fine, the evolutions prompt, the spectators 
unusually numerous, interested, and massed behind the pickets. As the 
sun neared the western hills the regiment was being put through the 
manual exercises. They were faced to the rear and were made to 
handle arms lively. Bayonets were fixed, muskets leveled, a whispered 
order was sent to the music. Suddenly the command rang out clear 
and loud, "Charge !" Drums rattled, fifes screeched, the whole regi- 
ment rushed forward, hundreds of screaming women went over that 
wall at "double quick." The Colonel called "Halt, shoulder, right 
about, well done ! Brave soldiers you are dismissed." 

THE POOR. 

In the early years of the town persons falling into distress and need- 
ing public charity were set up at auction and provided for by the low- 
est bidder. It was the duty of the selectmen to see that they were 
humanely treated, and as a rule they were kindly cared for. When 
Parsonsfield bought a poor farm in 1835 nearly thirty paupers were 
supported by the town. The number has been steadily lessening till 
now only two are on the farm. 

That class of vagrants known as tramps have ever been summarily 
dealt with. The first case recorded is an order from the selectmen to 
the constable directing him "to warn Fannj^ Gisbee to leave town 
immediately and not return, otherwise she would be forcibly ejected." 
A few years later two men and a woman with minor children received 
a similar warning. Modern methods of riddance have been more quiet. 

POLITICAL. 

Politically, Parsonsfield has been democratic- since the day of its 
organization, and with few exceptions men elected to office have been 
of that party. Rotation in office has been a popular theory and prevail- 
ing practice. The customary term of service in one capacity has been 
three years, followed by possible promotion. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 23 1 

The votes given for governor show the standing of political parties 
from time to time : 1792, John Hancock forty votes ; 1812, Elbridge 
Gerry, one hundred and seventy-four, Caleb Strong seventy-nine ; 
1822, Albion K. Parris one hundred and thirty-seven; Ezekiel Whitman 
thirty-eight ; 1816, John W. Dana two hundred and fifty-eight, David 
Bronson thirty-three, Samuel Fessenden forty-two. The largest vote 
thrown in town was September, 1860, Ephraim K. Smart two hundred 
and fifty-six, Israel Washburn, Jr., two hundred and forty-six, scatter 
ing two, total five hundred and four. 1868 Pillsbury, two hundred and 
eighty-five. Chamberlain two hundred and seventeen ; 1886, Edwards 
two hundred and thirty, Bodwell one hundred and fifty-five, Clark 
fourteen. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

RAMBLES ABOUT TOWN. 

It is our purpose in this chapter to give a brief outline of the location 
of families in different sections of Parsonsfield, with occasional running 
comments on persons and things not elsewhere mentioned. 

We learn from unquestioned documents that Thomas Parsons, Esq., 
the original proprietor, was a resident of Effingham as late as August 
14, 1784, and of Parsonsfield (then Parsonstown), January, 1785. The 
first frame house built in town aiid the oldest now inhabited, was 
erected by him and finished during the season of 1784. The farm on 
which this building was erected is now owned and occupied as a sum- 
mer residence, by James W. Cook of Boston, Mass., who married a 
great granddaughter of said Parsons. He has remodeled the house, 
erected commodious additions and capacious outbuildings. 

About a mile south of this, upon a hill stands the residence of Har- 
vey Moore, Esq. The graves of the fathers and mothers are not for- 
gotten, but their home has been forsaken. 

All adown the slope from Ricker's Mountain to New Hampshire line 
the Doe families occupied the land. A few of other names, related by 
marriage, were found here and there. John, Jr., the first deacon of the 
Congregational church, was a tanner, most of the others followed farm- 
ing. 

Nearer the pond John Ames, from New Market, N. H., settled before 
the town was incorporated. Later, two of his sons, Marston and Dan- 
iel. They increased in land, cattle and money, but one generation after 
another lacked a quiver full of children. Their farms have recently 
passed to men of other names. 

Down by the sandy shore two generations of the Tuck family tilled 
the soil, but they too are gone. 

Three Marston brothers made openings near the southwest corner of 
the town. Their children pitched new tents along our southern bor- 
der, but, with one exception, strangers dwell in all these homes. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 233 

East of Ricker's mountain, extending down to the higliway from 
Middle Road to Maplewood, a block of lots in the second and third 
ranges was given by Esquire Parsons to three of his sons, and occupied 
by them some fifty years or more. Their neighbors on the north were 
Samuel Garland and Samuel Dutch. On the south resided Dudley 
Page, John Sanborn and Israel Hodsdon, and on the east, Nathan Wig- 
gin, Isaac Emery and Noah Wedgewood. 

Along the Whale's Back, half a dozen cellars and half that number 
of graveyards mark the locality where once the Quint families had 
homes. Adjoining the Quints on the east was, and now is, the Benson 
neighborhood, where dwelt several families of that name. Across the 
vaUey from Bensons, Moses Mighel's commenced, then sold to Aaron 
Goodwin, wlio was with Paul Jones in his notable sea fight by moon- 
light. , ^, 

East, beyond a vacant lot, is the farm, but not the house, where the 
first white child was born. According to family and town records, 
Joseph, son of Eben Moore, was born January 17, 1777. His father 
claimed that, by usage, the child was entitled to a lot of land. 

Turning from Newfield and coming up the South Road a mile or 
more, the'phices where Samuel Pease and his two sons first built may 
be seen. The younger Samuel was a Drum-Major in the army. The 
Burnham house was erected in 1799; the Burbank house early in the 
century, which have till the present been occupied by them and their 
descendants. Here the road to East Parsonsfield branches off. Joseph 
Pease sold to Major Paul Burnham about 1795. North of Burnham's 
is the farm once known as the Fairbank's home. Capt. James Morn- 
son lived toward the west. A minister once asked the captain if he 
was afraid of death. Springing to his feet, the old soldier rephed : 
-Afraid! I afraid ! why, nr, I was at Bunker Hill, Brandy wine and 

through the Jarseys.'' 

West of Morrison's, John Lougee, of the second generation, ran a 
tannery from young manhood to old age. Tanning hides on shares 
was a common custom. Then the shoemaker with his kit went from 
house to house working by the day. 

Next, we find the old homesteads of Elisha Piper, Levi Howe, the 
blacksmith, George Bickford, Major Zebulon Pease, the old trapper, 



2 34 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

and Enoch Hale, the cabinet-maker. The Free Baptist meeting-house 
was opposite Mr. Hale's. 

■ Turning toward the middle road, we pass the farms where Dudley 
Hilton and Jesse Wedgewood early felled the forest, to the hill settled 
by the Moulton's, and still occupied by their descendants. 

On the brook, south of the road traveled, there have been three saw- 
mills within the memory of man. Bickford's is yet operated. Two or 
three stores have been opened at South Parsonsfield for brief periods. 
A post-office was established here, 1831, George Hilton, Postmaster. 
He held the office till 1883. 

It is one mile or more from the Moulton hill to Middle Road village. 
Job Colcord settled here before the incorporation of the town and 
opened a tavern. The parish records of 1790 say the meeting-house 
was between the dwelling houses of Bradstreet Wiggin and John 
Brown. No mention is made of other families. Town-meetings were 
held at Wiggin's and Colcord's till the meeting-house was finished, 
1795; then at the meeting-house till the erection of the present town 
house, about 1832. 

Lot number 51, in the third range, was set apart for the use of the 
ministry. In 1790, the parish exchanged it for the lot and buildings 
Brown owned at the Middle Road. This was known as the parsonage 
till the death of Mr. Rolfe. The parsonage house was built 1795. After 
Mr. Rolfe's death in 1817, Mar}'-, his widow, returned to Massachusetts. 
The parsonage house and land lying on the eastern side of the highway 
and extending from land of Richard Lord, on the south, to land of 
Daniel Philbrick, on the north, reserving one acre, occupied as a bur}-- 
ing ground, was sold to Andrew Pease by the Congregational Society. 

Under date of July 12, 1802, Nicholas Emery, Esquire, says he has 
posted a notice for a parish meeting at his office and at the store of 
Samuel Dalton. Benjamin, brother of Samuel, succeeded him in trade. 
Samuel Cushman and Rufus Mclntire followed Judge Emery. Doctor 
James Bradbury and Gilman L. Bennett have been the physicians 
residing here. The mechanics have been Josiah Hannaford, Francis S. 
Grace, John Morrill, Lorenzo Redman, Hiram Billings, C. E. Weeman 
and others. 

Half a mile west of the village, Walter and Enoch Neal lifted their 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 235 

axes against the thick trees, where John and Luther Neal, of the third 
generation, yet own and occupy. On the road branching toward West 
Parsonsfield, a Baptist meeting-house was standing, 1796. Beyond 
was the Dearborn mill, first built by Josiah and Asa Pease. Josiah 
dwelt half-way up the long hill, while Asa looked down from the sum- 
mit. Here, on this hill, James Fogg, Captain Lemuel Miller, Rufus 
and Isaac Nason and John G. Lombard, have since lived. Bearing to 
the right is an out-of-the-way farm, where Moulton Smart raised two 
smart doctors. 

Returning to the Middle Road by way of Trueworthy D. Palmer's 
and his son, Joshua D., and another pioneer, we climb the steep hill, 
and view the spot where the domicile of Caleb Burbank stood many 
years, later owned by Deacon John Lord and the Anderson brothers. 
Half-way down the hill, past Albert R. Leavitt's, the former home of 
Doctor David W. Clark, is the farm bought by Josiah Colcord, but not 
since sold. Around the Emerson schoolhouse several houses were 
erected, which have ceased to be. 

At South River, Joseph Granville built mills, which were rebuilt by 
George Lord, near the close of the last century. Later on, his son 
Samuel, added a small factory, in which he carded and spun wool, wove 
and dressed cloth by water power, for the neighboring farmers. The 
home of Colonel David L. Hobbs, so many years selectman, was near 
Eftiugham. 

Li returning from Lord's Mills to the Emerson schoolhouse, the 
neighborhood settled and still occupied by the Chase family is at the 
left.. From the schoolhouse, the ascent to the highlands is up, past 
the old homes of William Sanborn, Joseph Huckins, Solomon Kenison, 
Edmund Chase, Samuel Knapp, who, with his two sons, finished many 
of the older houses yet inhabited, then past James Champion's and 
another at the top of the hill, once known as Hunter's Hill, because 
there was a common camp there, in which hunters and trappers sought 
shelter, rest and companionship, before the ax-men made war on the 
shady forest. Wishing them plenty of game and sure shots, we will 
go down to the top of Merrill's hill, and view the field where Colonel 
Jonathan Kinsman— then living there— assembled the first regiment of 
soldiers for General Master. Center square is a mile east, so, turn- 



236 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

ing south, let us go down the shipe of this divide, past the farm of 
John Bennett, the third generation of that name residing there, since 
Samuel Dalton, senior's, past Joseph Wedgewood's to Middle Road 
village, and without delay turn eastward to take a look at residences 
along the old Middle 'Road. 

The discontinued Corson road runs close to the base of Cedar moun- 
tain, beneath wliose shelter half a dozen families found protection from 
the fierce western winds. Among them, Taylor Page and Elder Went- 
worth Lord. Several orchards and miles of stone wall mark their 
places of abode as well as the hardy character of these denizens. In 
this solitude we would gladl}"- stop to meditate, but must pursue our 
way up and down the frequent hills. 

Upon the first, William Moulton found a resting place, while Stephen 
Merrill crowned the second one with a modest dwelling. In the valley, 
Joseph Boothby tilled the land, and Andrew Welch traded in cattle. 
A side road, at the corner of which stood the Welch meeting-house, 
takes us up past the homes of Messrs. Deacon Rand, John Lord and 
George and John Perkins, to ruins on an elevated plateau, once the 
residence of William Frost. John and James Cram secured the next 
eminence, having the Cartland " Friends " for neighbors on the north. 

Johnson's hill and the willow cane of John Fenderson, grandfather 
of Ivory, which grew to a majestic tree, attract attention before reach- 
ing the Parsons' neighborhood. Bordering on Limerick and Cornish, 
there are three or four lots and gores, which Thomas Parsons, junior, 
received from his father. Turning north, through and by these par- 
cels, the original home-place of William Fenderson is seen toward 
Randall's mountain. Thence past the homes of John Fenderson, 
Joseph Wilson (first occupied by Thomas Parsons, 3d), and Cliase 
Boothby, the veteran school teacher, to the summit of the next hill, 
and the village of East Parsonsfield (or Weeks' Corner) is just in front. 

Between Middle Road village and East Parsonsfield, a distance of 
five miles, there is a superabundance of rocks all along the route, yet 
there is no section of the town more productive, no soil better adapted 
to any and every crop. 

Keeping in mind that the object of these rambles is to note the loca- 
tion chosen by early settlers, yet a few facts respecting the business 
and growth of villages are in place. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 237 

Samuel Longee was the pioneer at East Parsonsfield. Elder Weeks 
became his neighbor some five years later. Noah and Eliphalet Weeks 
were taxed in 1794. Samuel and Joseph Perry paid a property tax 
that year, but no poll tax till 1797. The name of Archelaus Pray first 
occurs 1799, while that of Thomas Pendexter, the first of that name, is 
not found till 1806, and the mime of Samuel Eastman, 1809. Several 
other families came into this vicinity, who did not remain many years. 
The five here named intermarried, and have held most of the ground, 

Noah Weeks was the prominent merchant for many years. Follow- 
ing him were: Richardson, Thomas Parsons, 3d, John Goddard, John 
McArthur, James Weeks, Simeon Folsom, Nathaniel Pendexter, Joseph 
Pray, Moses R. Brackett, Isaac and Nathaniel Brackett, Simeon D. 
Mudgett, Cyrus E. Bean, J. F. Dearborn, Jeremiah Bullock, G. J. Pen- 
dexter, Joseph Ridlon, Jonathan Devereux, A. O. Smart, N. Pease, 
Ridlon Brothers, Jerome W. Cole, Timothy A. Pendexter and C. O. 
Nute & Sons. About forty families reside in the village. 

After remarking that the Perrys took up farms on the road leading 
to North Parsonsfield, and the Pendexters and Eastmans east of them, 
we will travel west to Little Hampton, so-called, for the reason that 
the first residents emigrated from Hampton, N. H. The family names 
of Dearborn, Johnson, Towle and Brackett have all these years been 
associated with this locality. A short tramp brings us to the north 
road again, near the homes of Jacob Dearborn and Samuel Foss. Here, 
also, of old, lived James Remick and Gilman Lougee, on which farm 
Gilman Lougee, of the third generation, now resides, and down under 
the hill David Mudgett, after whom "Mudgett Pond" was named. 
Stopping at Mr. John Henry Foss' to taste the fi-uit of that apple-tree 
John Lougee brought from Gilmanton on horseback more than a hun- 
dred years ago, and then ascending a gentle rise, past Mr. Bartlett's, 
we reach the primitive homesteads of Edward and John Fox. Descend- 
ing the hill, we arrive at the homes of Captain Joseph Merrill and his 
son Hardy, and just below, that of Andrew McChapman and his son 
George F. The spot where Samuel Allen wrought at blacksmithing is 
halfway down the hill. Crossing the brook, on our left once stood the 
Potash works of Jacob Schagel, where our great-grandmothers procured 
leaven for their bread, superior to burnt corn-cobs. 



238 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

The neighborhood known as North Parsonsfield is a broad, straight 
street, more than one mile in length, rather than a compact village. It 
numbers about forty families. There is a cluster of houses and stores 
near the eastern limit, and Parsonsfield Seminary on the hill, one mile 
away, near the other extreme. 

Starting at the public cemetery, within which scores of white stones 
mark the resting-place of fathers, mothers and children, to the third 
and fourth generation, nearly opposite to which, John Libby estab- 
lished a home about 1780, for a few years, we go northward. The 
Freewill meeting-house occupied the ground between the two stores. 
Joseph Mulloy was in trade opposite, soon after the year 1800. The 
first frame-house, built by Lot Wedgewood, stands at the corner of 'the 
roads. About 1801, the societ}^ bought the farm and built the house 
now standing for Elder Buzzell. Eben and Joseph Blazo built on the 
lot opposite Elder Buzzell's, about 1796. Samuel Dalton had a store 
opposite Wadleigh's blacksmith shop. 

The home of John Allen was below Dr. Sweat's. Also the homes of 
Colonel Simon J. Whitten and, farther down, that of General James 
Thomas. Amos Blazo, the earliest emigrant locating in this section of 
the town, built several rods west of the Porter road, but later in life 
lived on the corner east of that highway. Following the Porter road 
a short distance, we pass the Academy, and the field in which the Cen- 
tennial exercises were held ; remarking that John Burbank deeded the 
Piper farm to Isaac Felch in 1815, and that Thomas Thompson sold 
the Merrill farm to Samuel Allen (now owned by Robert Merrill) at 
about the same date. The farm beyond has been owned by Benjamin 
Bickford, Philip Paine, John Merrill and Simon Brown. Returning to 
Blazo's, and facing westward, we note the spot in the sharp triangle 
between the ways, where Jonathan Towle first settled, learn that the 
house on the hill to our left belonged for three generations to the 
Thurston family, now owned by the Leavitts, that, in olden days, 
James Smith had a home near the Hobbs' bridge and a clothing-mill 
on South river, and that Colonel David L. Hobbs took up the flat near 
the state line. 

By cutting across lots, the Huntress neighborhood, in the extreme 
northwest corner of the town, is reached. It is within the gore that 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 239 

was sold to Patrick Tracy, and held by his heirs till about 1815. Pro- 
ceeding over the hill and down the river road, we pass the homes of 
Thomas C. Huntress, Pratt brothers, Charles Bennett and the ruins of 
a log-house, which was erected in the last century. Before reaching 
the Porter road, we come to the ruins of the homes of John Stacy and 
Richard Devereaux. Once on the main road, at O. B. Churchill's, and 
facing north, the homesteads of James Smith and Ichabod Churchill, 
since occupied by Major Thomas Churchill and his son Nathaniel H., 
are in view. 

Leaving Porter bridge, over which the horse of Dr. Moses Sweat 
once crossed on a stringer without wakening his rider, on our left 
we will turn down the gore road, seeking more information. The 
locality was first settled by Elijah and Samuel Fox. In process of 
time, George Kezar settled three or four of his children along the road. 
It is probable that the old hunter remained in the woods, where his old 
camp was pitched. None of the family ever lived at Kezar Falls, or 
owned property there. 

Eastward from the Kezar settlement, there is a swell of fine farming 
land. It was not brought under cultivation until the early years of 
the present century. The name of Ebenezer Foss first appears on the 
tax list of 1800. That of Benning Parker in 1804. Thomas Edgecomb 
in 1805, while the names of George Newbegin, Jacob and Moses Banks 
are added in 1807. The descendants of these pioneers still hold most 
of the hill. The Great Ossipee river is a mile to the north. Kezar 
Falls, said to have been so named from the fact that hunter Kezar here 
had a sort of foot-bridge from rock to rock, is an unrivaled water 
power. Within seventy years, a smart village has grown up near the 
Falls, of which more is said in another place. 

Taking the Cornish road, there was a carding-mill near the corner of 
the town about 1812. On the road from Cornish to North Parsons- 
field, the records say Daniel Chick brought his family in 1798 ; Eben 
Gould, 1796; Elisha Wadleigh, 1799; Daniel Elliot, 1792; Henry 
Boothby was early on Bickford's hill and Samuel Chapman here, 1792. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

PART III. 

PERSONAL SKETCHES. 

Honorable James W. Bradbur}*, in his oration, Horace Piper, 
Esquire in "Schools of Parsonsfield," Doctor Joseph Ricker on " College 
Graduates," P. W. Mclntire on " Lawyers of Parsonsfield," the paper on 
" Physicians of Parsonsfield," and H. G. O. Smith in " Part H " of this 
History have made mention of many of the former and present resi- 
dents of the town, and in this part it is proposed to treat briefly of 
others. In this we have been aided largely by contributions from other 
sources, to whom we have endeavored to give due credit. Of those in 
town who have furnished valuable contributions, especial mention 
should be made of Mr. Joseph Parsons, Mr. John Pray, Mr. William K. 
Doe, Mr. Gilman Lougee, Mr. Eben Foss, Mr. O. B. Churchill and Mr. 
Ivory Fenderson, besides many unmentioned names to whom we are 
largely indebted. To all those referred to in the preface and here 
mentioned, as well as to the very many interested ones whose efforts 
are appreciated, but whose names are omitted, we acknowledge our 
obligations and express our gratitude. 

THOMAS PARSONS, ESQUIRE. 

The original proprietor of this town, and he from whom it took its 
name was Thomas Parsons. At this late date, no one is found who 
remembers him with distinctness, and we regret to say that but little 
of liim can be learned on which to make a sketch of his life. 

The town has been signally blessed in the high character of her sons 
and daughters, and the honorable and gratifying record they have 
made. Much of this is due to the high standing and character of 
Thomas Parsons. Of ancestry direct from the aristocracy of England 
traced back to Sir Humphrey, Lord Mayor of London, in 1740 and 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 24 1 

1731, thence to Sir John, who held the same office in 1704, thence 
to Sir Thomas of Great Milton, who received the honor of knight- 
hood from Charles First in 1634, to whom was granted a coat-of- 
arras, retained in the Parsons family in the United States, as well 
as by the descendants of Sir Thomas in London, and by a branch of 
the family that settled in Barbadoes ; and thence back to John Par- 
sons, who was Mayor in Hereford in the county of Herefordshire, in 
1481; and then in the United States he comes down from Joseph 
Parsons, of Springfield, Massachusetts, called Cornet Joseph, who was 
a resident of that place as early as 1686, for on July fifteenth of 
that year his name appears as a witness to the deed from the Indians 
of lands of that place and vicinity, and who died in Springfield, March 
25, 1684 ; through his eldest son Joseph junior, a man in active and 
extensive business, and in political and military life ; through his eldest 
son Joseph, 3d, who was a collegian and clergyman, dying at Salsbury 
in 1738, at the age of sixty-eight years ; through his eldest son Joseph, 
4th, also a collegian and clergyman, dying in 1765 in Braintree, Mas- 
sachusetts, to himself, the fourth son of this latter Joseph, 4th, and 
Elizabeth (Usher) Parsons. 

Such a line of ancestry could but give character to the man, and in 
settling the township he called around him, in accordance with a nat- 
ural law, those congenial to him and to each other. He was a man of 
activity, broad in his views, incisive, fixed and determined, with large 
executive abilities, extreme hospitality and far-reaching circumspec- 
tion. He was quite liberally educated, as is evidenced by his writings, 
where he employed very clear and concise language and wrote with a 
bold, plain and firm hand. 

He was born September 18, 1735, in Bradford, Massachusetts, was 
twice married, first to Anna Poor, of Andover, Massachusetts, who 
died May 24, 1783, aged forty-four years, and second, to Lucy Brad- 
bury, of Saco, who died November 10, 1811, surviving her husband but 
three months. By his first wife he had nine children, and by his 
second, ten, making a family of nineteen children. 

The township of land was granted to Mr. Parsons, on the fiftli of 
August, 1771, by the proprietors claiming it under the will of Mrs. 
Bridget Phillips, and under his direction surveyed by Joseph Cram, 
16 



242 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Esquire, of Exeter, New Hampshire, in the autumn of the same year. 
Mr. Parsons became very soon a resident of Leavittstown, New Hamp- 
shire, now Effingham, residing very near the northwestern border of 
Parsonsfield. Here he remained until 1784. The town records of 
Leavittstown, or Effingham, show that he was moderator of the town- 
meeting in March, 1784. But he had erected a dwelling-house in Par- 
sonsfield and become a resident there prior to August, 1785, for at that 
time he was chosen moderator and chairman of the first Board of Select- 
men of the newly-incorporated town. 

The records show that he was actively engaged in the business affairs 
of the town until 1802. In religious views and profession, like his 
ancestors, he was a Congregationalist. His remains lie in the cemetery 
on the old homestead by the side of those of his wives and several of 
his children. The inscription on the plain, unpretending slab, runs 
thus : " In memory of Thomas Parsons, who departed this life August 
10, 1811, aged 76 years. 

"Behold fond man, see here thy pictured life, 
Thy flowery spring, thy summer's ardent strength; 
The sober autumn fading into age, 
And pale concluding winter comes at last, 
And shuts the scene." 

THOMAS PARSONS, JUNIOR, 

Eldest son of Thomas and Anna (Poor) Parsons, was born at South- 
ampton, Massachusetts, February 8, 1759. Married Hannah Foster, 
of Limerick, then Sullivan's Town, in 1778, and moved to the south- 
eastern portion of Parsonsfield, where he owned about one thousand 
acres of land, his residence being the farm now owned by Daniel 
Piper and Joseph Parsons. His wife died March 5, 1784, and he 
married Miss Abigail Drake, of Effingham. By his first wife he had 
three children, Thomas, Enoch Poor and Ann. Of his family there 
are and have been very many. His eldest son, Thomas, was born 
April 26, 1779, and married Anna Lougee and settled on the farm now 
owned by Joseph Wilson, later moved to East Parsonsfield and thence 
moved to Canada. 

Enoch Poor, the second son, born April 2, 1781, married Betsey 
Burnham, November 10, 1800, lived on the home-farm, joined the 



^^^ 




'^'"■rtniKenSiU etti'" 



Capi THOMAS BRADBURY PARSONS. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 243 

society of Friends, with whom he remained during life, dying Febru- 
ary 6, 1860. 

Thomas Parsons, junior, was killed by the falling of a tree, December 
23, 1788, and then followed another son of the proprietor, Thomas B. 
Parsons. 

CAPTAIN THOMAS BRADBURY PARSONS, 

The twelfth child of Thomas, and third by his second wife Lucy Brad- 
bury, was born in Parsonsfield, February 11, 1789. Of his early edu- 
cational advantages we can only form some idea, t)y the facts that 
appear in his later life. His ancestry is traced at some length in the 
sketch of the life of his father, Thomas Parsons, Esquire, to which the 
reader is referred. How early he commenced his career as a seafaring 
man is not known to the writer, but in 1808, at the age of nineteen 
years, he performed one of the most noble, gallant and daring acts in 
the records of history. Senator James W. Bradbury, in speaking in 
the United States Senate in 1848, upon a bill giving a small arrear of 
pension to Mr. Parsons on this point, said : " It was one that, if he had 
been a Roman citizen, would have entitled him to a civic croivn, nay, 
to seven, for he saved the lives of seven American seaman, at the 
imminent hazard of his own, and Rome conferred the civic crown on 
him who saved the life of a Roman citizen." 

It appears that, at that time, Mr. Parsons was an officer in the United 
States Navy, attached to one of the gun-boats that were employed off 
the coast of Louisiana to enforce the embargo and suppress piracy. 
They had occasion to send out a boat on an expedition, under sailing- 
master Brown, with eight persons, one of whom was Parsons, and one 
midshipman Jones. In crossing the bar, the boat was struck by the 
breakers and sunk in some twelve feet of water, a mile from shore. 
Another breaker capsized and emptied it of its contents, and it rose to 
the surface. Parsons and Brown were the only members of the party 
who could swim. They assisted their drowning companions to regain 
and cling to the boat, and then each taking an oar they started for the 
shore. The tide was strong against them and before reaching the 
shore Brown gave out. Parsons now gave up his oar to Brown and 
made for the shore without assistance. Divesting himself hastily of 



244 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

his clothing, he swam back to Brown, reaching him just in time to save 
him from sinking, and brought him to land in so exhausted a condi- 
tion that he was unable to stand for several hours. 

For a time, the capsized boat, with the others clinging to it, was 
drifted with the tide out to sea, and seemingly inevitable destruction 
awaited them ; but upon the return of flood tide, the boat was drifted 
toward the land to a point far distant. Parsons again, at the hazard 
of his own life, renewed his exertions to save his companions. He 
swam to the wreck and brought off Jones, then back again and brought 
to shore another, and then a third time and brought to shore the boat 
with the remaining sailors clinging to it. In this effort he received 
an injury from which he never recovered, and for which, in 1835, he 
was pensioned. 

When the matter of pension came up in the House, Mr. Reed, of 
Massachusetts, regarded it as a story without any foundation of truth, 
but as Mr. Jones (then commodore) was referred to, he inquired of 
him and found it true in every particular. In 1848, an arrear of pen- 
sion was granted him. 

In 1814, he was sailing master of the famous privateer brig General 
Armstrong, of New York, and assisted in defending her and heading 
off the boats of a British squadron in two attacks in the harbor of 
Fayal, which for bravery and hand-to-hand fighting on shipboard were 
not equaled during the war of 1812. 

In this attack, the British were obliged to retire with the loss of two 
hundred men killed and ninety wounded. Captain Parsons on this 
occasion was severely wounded. It is said that the loss to the British in 
these engagements was the means of saving New Orleans, the squadron 
being so disabled that they could not join, as intended, in the attack 
on that city, which gave General Jackson time to prepare, and thus the 
attack was postponed and the city saved. After the war. Captain Par- 
sons served in the merchant service until 1826, when he became a 
teacher of navigation in Portland, in which he continued until 1866. 
At that time his dwelling on Deer Street was burned in the great fire 
which then prevailed, and thereafter Captain Parsons lived in retire- 
ment, dying in 1872 at the age of eighty-three years, respected and 
beloved. He was twice married, first on January 25, 1823, to Elizabeth 



!3^ 




Capt. LUTHER EMERSON 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 245 

Hedskins, and second, on January 26, 1846, to Anna Chase. He left 
no issue. 

CAPTAIN LUTHER EMERSON, 

Was born in Alfred, Maine, November 11, 1782, the son of Joseph and 
Lydia (Durrell) Emerson, and grandson of Rev. John Emerson of 
Topsfield, Massachusetts, whose father was Edward, of Chelmsford, 
Massachusetts. 

His ancestors were among the earliest settlers of the Massachusetts 
colony, coming from Durham, England, and settling at Ipswich about 
1635, and were of the staunch old Puritan stock, descending from Sir 
Ralph Emerson, of York, England, who was knighted by King Henry 
Eighth, in 1585. The heraldic arms have been inherited by the family 
of the late Ralph Waldo Emerson, a branch of the same family. In 
1807, he married Miss Elizabeth • Usher Parsons, daughter of Thomas 
Parsons, of Parsonsfield. 

He then settled on a farm in Lyman, adjoining Alfred, where he 
resided until after the death of his father-in-law, when he purchased 
the Parsons homestead and removed to Parsonsfield, where the re- 
mainder of his life was passed. Mrs. Emerson died in 1857, and in 
1868 he married a second time. He died July 4, 1875, at the age of 
ninety-two years and eight months. In politics a whig, and later, a 
republican, and in religious views and profession, a Congregationalist. 
He reared a family of five sons and two daughters. He was ambitious, 
energetic, a man of sound judgment, passionately fond of poetry and a 
great lover of music, hospitable and kind, a good friend and a worthy 
citizen, neighbor, father and husband. 

JOSEPH PRATT EMERSON, 

Was born in Lyman, Maine, November 10, 1810. His father was 
Captain Luther Emerson, who moved to Parsonsfield in 1814, and 
settled on tlie homestead farm of Thomas Parsons, whose daughter he 
married. Joseph P. followed agriculture as a business, yet music 
with him was not only a passion but a part of his being. And to 
it he devoted much time and service. He taught over two hundred 
classes and schools in vocal music, and devoted months of time and 



246 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

traveled thousands of miles to render service to others in times of need, 
in this capacity, without charge or remuneration. In 1829, he went to 
New Brunswick and tarried there' seven years, and during this time 
was married to Miss Sarah Dunfield. The union was blessed with 
eight children, three sons and five daughters — all yet living. In 1836, 
he returned to Parsonsfield to the old homestead, where he remained 
till his death, which was instantaneous — being thrown from a mowing- 
machine on the seventeenth of July, 1884. He was one of the charter 
members of Charter Oak Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, 
of Effingham, New Hampshire, and gave it its name. His remains 
were taken charge of by that Order, the largest and most impressive 
funeral service which ever occurred in town. 

His genuine hospitality, unselfish generosity and his cheering wit 
and good humor were marked traits of his character, and his friend- 
ships were wide, numerous, firm and abiding. In politics he was a 
republican, in religion a Baptist. He was one of the few, whose 
removal from earth creates a vacuum that remains, and a sadness that 
is lasting. 

PROFESSOR LUTHER ORLANDO EMERSON. 

Luther Orlando Emerson, youngest son of Captain Luther and Eliza- 
beth Usher (Parsons) Emerson, and grandson of Thomas Parsons, the 
original proprietor of the town, was born in Parsonsfield, August 3, 
1820. He early manifested a taste and talent for music, inherited, in 
a greater or less degree, by the other members of the familjs which 
was cultivated as circumstances would best allow during his boyhood 
and the earlier years of his manhood. At the age of twenty-one he 
left home and went to Boston. 

His education had been obtained at the district school, Parsonsfield 
Seminary and Effingham Academy. He was full of energy, quick and 
versatile, an apt scholar and, with a view to entering the profession of 
medicine, he entered Dracut Academy, Massachusetts. But the great 
love and passion for music swerved him from that course, and now, 
having far better opportunities of cultivating and enjoying this taste 
and ability, he soon determined upon music as the profession of his 
choice. He accordingly commenced a course of musical instruction, 
under the late I. B. Woodbury. 






^^^^ '^m^. 




I ^^l^^ 



Qy^^K^ 




IrUJl 




-1^ _ 



'!^E^- 








Emerson Homestead 

1784. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 247 

After several years of study on the voice, piano, organ and harmon}'', 
he went to Salem, Massachusetts, and began teaching, and there took 
charge of his first choir at a salary of -f 100 a year. Here, naturally, he 
began to compose for liis choir, hymns and anthems, which were so suc- 
cessful with the congregation tliat he felt encouraged to collect them 
in book-form, as in a few years they had largely accumulated. This 
resulted in the " Romberg Collection," published in 1853, while he was 
still in Salem. This book was not a great success, although it con- 
tained some of Mr. Emerson's best efforts, as was proven when some 
years later he incorporated nearly one-half of this venture in a new 
collection. He was a young, unknown author, and it was not easy to 
find a firm willing to undertake the publication of his work. He 
remained in Salem six years, then returned to Boston and accepted 
the position of director of music and organist at Bulfinch Street Church, 
which position he held for four years. Meanwhile, he continued teach- 
ing, studying and writing music. 

In 1857 was publisned by Oliver Ditson & Co., the " Golden Wreath," 
by Emerson, a song-book for schools, which at once became very pop- 
ular and met with a ready sale. The first year there were sold forty 
thousand copies, and the sale now amounts to over three hundred thou- 
sand. In 1858, he put forth the " Golden Harp," a Sunday-school 
book, which was also a great success. 

These efforts gave him not only encouragement but reputation, since 
which he has never been obliged to seek for a publisher. Leaving Bos- 
ton, he accepted the position of organist and musical director in the 
Second Congregational Church, at Greenfield, Massachusetts, and was 
at the same time elected to take charge of the musical department of 
Powers' Institute, at Bernardston, Massachusetts, both of whicli posi- 
tions he held for eight years. 

In 1860, he published a second book of church music, the "Sabbath 
Harmony," which took high rank and has had an extensive sale. Much 
of the better portion of this collection was taken from the " Romberg," 
which proves beyond a question that its failure was not due to lack of 
merit. The tune of " Sessions " alone, which it contained, would, had 
he never composed another, have immortalized his name. 

In 1863, he brought out the " Harp of Judah," the sale of which 



248 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

was unequaled by any book of its kind, reaching fifty thousand copies 
during the first three months. This book probably gave Mr. Emerson 
his pre-eminence as a composer of church music. From that time to 
the present, his church music books have taken the lead of all that 
have been published in the country. 

In 1866, the " Jubilate " was published. This was equally successful 
with the "Harp of Judah." Then followed in 1869 the "Choral 
Tribute"; in 1872, the "Standard"; in 1874, the "Leader"; in 1879, 
the " Voice of Worship," and " Emerson's Vocal Method." In all, 
Mr, Emerson has published fifty-one books for churches, schools, socie- 
ties and the household, which together have had an aggregate sale of 
over a million copies. 

Notwithstanding all this labor, Mr. Emerson has written over fifty 
songs and pieces for the piano, most of which have had large sales and 
are well known. His war-song "We are coming Father Abraham," 
words by Bryant ; " Negro Boatman's Song," words by Whittier, are 
too well known and appreciated to call for comment. 

Among those that are familiar may be mentioned " Out in the cold," 
" I have no mother now," " I'll paddle my own canoe," " The flower 
girl," "Though lost to sight to memory dear," "Sleep my baby, sleep 
and dream," " Star of the twilight," " Why did we meet ? " " Why did 
we part?" "Parting whispers," "Alpine echo," "Little Gertie and 
Uncle True," "Mountain land" and "Star of descending night." 
Among his popular sacred songs are : " Stand up for Jesus," " Jesus 
loves me," " Tarry with me, oh my Saviour," " Rock of ages," " So 
the day of rest declineth," " When the hues of daylight fade," " O, 
praise the mighty God," " Daughter of Zion," " Guide me, O thou 
great Jehovah," etc., etc. Nearly all of his writings have been pub- 
lished by Oliver Ditson & Co. 

Of late years, Mr. Emerson has devoted his energies to the grand 
purpose of elevating the general character of music in our churches — 
uplifting and upbuilding in its tendency, and thus largely advancing 
the interests of true worship. With this in view, he has taken a very 
active part in musical conventions and festivals, being engaged in this 
noble work for more than twenty-five years, during which period he 
has conducted over three hundred conventions throughout the country. 







Emerson Homestead 

Elmswood Farm, 
188^ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 249 

These musical conventions have done more to create and foster a 
general interest in music than any other agency. The great Boston 
Jubilee owed its success in great measure to the hundreds of these con- 
ventions held in different parts of the country and especially in New 
England. As a conductor, Mr. Emerson ranks among the first. 

As a lecturer upon music, Mr. Emerson has attracted considerable 
attention, his best known lecture being that entitled " The World of 
Music." In this he traces its origin and progress, and gives some 
excellent lessons drawn from the lives of the great composers. He 
shows the design of music ; how it has been prized in every age of the 
world, among all nations ; its power in the church and state and the 
need of its influence in the family. 

He is now full of life and vigor, busy laboring in his chosen field, not 
chilled in his ardor, kindness and genuine hospitality by contact with 
the world's selfishness, nor wanting in that generosity of nature which 
1 as ever won him hosts of friends. 

JAMES \V. COOK, 

Second son of Nathaniel H. and Fannie (Chamberlin") Cook, and one 
of a family of seven children, was born in Wakefield, New Hampshire, 
May 1, 1837, where he resided until February, 1845, when his father 
removed with his family to North Parsonsfield to avail himself of the 
benefits afforded by Parsonsfield Seminary. At the age of sixteen 
years he went to Manchester, New Hampshire, with a view to learning 
mercantile business, where he remained one year. Then in conse- 
quence of the failing health of his father, he was obliged to return to 
his home, where he engaged in farming for several years. In the 
spring of 1857, he went to New York, and found ready employment as 
clerk in Lovejoy's Hotel. There he tarried till November, 1 858, when 
he again returned to his Parsonsfield home, saddened by the death of 
his mother and two of his sisters. As the family was thus well-nigh 
broken up, he, at the urgent request of the surviving members, decided 
to open a store for general merchandise at North Parsonsfield, near the 
residence of his father. In connection therewith, he carried on farming 
and lumbering, meeting with marked success in his business enterprises 
for a period of thirteen years. 



250 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

On November 24, 1859, he married Miss Sarah J. Emerson, daughter 
of Joseph P. Emerson and great-granddaughter of Thomas Parsons, 
and they have three chiklren, two sons, William H. and Charles E., 
and one daughter, Fannie S. 

In 1872, he sold his entire property in Parsonsfield and removed 
with his family to Boston, Massachusetts, purchasing the old established 
business of John Devereux and others, of pianoforte moving, estab- 
lished in 1823. He conducted this business until January 1, 1887' 
when his son William H. entered into partnership with him under the 
firm name of " J. W. Cook & Son." Here, by strict attention to busi- 
ness, he has acquired a large property. 

While in Parsonsfield, he enjoyed the confidence of the community, 
being one of the municipal officers of the town, actively interested in 
the moral reforms and progress of the times, a charter member of 
Drummond Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at North 
Parsonsfield, and, after removing to Boston, becoming interested in 
religious matters, joining the Baptists worshiping at Tremont Temple. 

A few years since, he purchased " Elmwood Farm " in Parsonsfield, 
well known as the Emerson homestead, being the late residence of 
Joseph P. Emerson, deceased, and earlier the farm of Thomas Parsons, 
the proprietor of the town, on which stands the original house erected 
by him, which Mr. Cook has remodeled and enlarged for a summer 
residence. On this farm he has at a great expense erected large farm 
buildings, and is successfully engaged in farming enterprise, making 
many and valuable improvements. 

HONORABLE JAMES W. BEADBURY, 
LAWYER AND EX-UNITED STATES SENATOR, AUGUSTA, MAINE. 

(See Frontispiece.) 
Of the many distinguished public men to whom the State has given 
birth, few have attained to greater prominence or achieved a more 
enviable success in life than the subject of this brief sketch. That suc- 
cess, however, has not been due alone to a liberally educated, highly 
cultivated mind, united to native vigor of intellect, but largely to an 
indefatigable industry, which has marked his career througliout — an 
industry devoted to the investigation of public questions as they arose ; 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 25 I 

and to an understanding of the merits of the engrossing topics of the 
hour ; whereby lie lias kept himself fully abreast of the times. 

And even now, at the age of more than fourscore, when most men 
of his years sink into the torpor of senility, he is remarkably active, 
both in body and mind — still taking as lively an interest as ever in 
foreign affairs, in the doings of Congress, in the legislation of the State, 
in the success of our colleges and other educational agencies, in the 
development of the industrial interests of the country, in the discov- 
eries of science and the inventions of art, as well as in the varied social, 
religious and political movements of the day. 

The limits prescribed to this sketch admit of only a meagre outline 
of his life and labors. 

James Ware Bradbury was born in Parsonsfield,York County, Maine, 
July 10, 1802. His father, James Bradbury, was a successful practicing 
physician in that town for upward of forty years. The common ances- 
tor of the family in this country was Thomas Bradbury,* a native of 
Essex, England, who came to Massachusetts about the year 1634, as 
agent of Sir Ferdinando Gorges. He was repeatedly elected a member 
of the General Court of Massachusetts from the town of Salisbury. 

After leaving the common schools, Mr. Bradbury attended for one 
or more terms the academies at Saco, Limerick and Effingham, New 
Hampshire, and fitted for college under the tuition of Preceptor Nason, 
at Gorham. He entered the sophomore class at Bowdoin, in the 
autumn of 1822, and was graduated in 1825. Among the graduating 
class of that year were Longfellow, Little, Hawthorne, Cilley, Abbott 
and others, who afterward became celebrated. Josiah Storer Little 
took the first rank in scholarship, having assigned to him the first of 
the three English orations. Bradbury and Longfellow had the other 
two, their rank being in the order of their names, Gorham Dean, who 
held the second rank, having died before Commencement. Soon after 
graduating, Mr. Bradbury became preceptor of Hallowell Academy, 
giving universal satisfaction. 

He then commenced the study of law in the office of Rufus Mclntire, 
of Parsonsfield, finishing in that of Ether and John Shepley. Some 
three months intervening before he could be admitted to the bar, he 

*Jame3 W. is sixth in the line of descent from Thomas Bradbury. 



252 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

opened a school in Effingham, New Hampshire, for the instruction of 
teachers, which he taught one term with success, drilling the pupils for 
the special business of teachers. This is believed to have been the first 
attempt at a normal school in New England. 

On being admitted, in 1830, Mr. Bradbury removed to Augusta, 
where he commenced practice. In 1833, he formed a short professional 
co-partnership with Horatio Bridge. Subsequently he had for law- 
partners. Honorable Lot M. Morrill, J. M. Meserve and Richard D. 
Rice. In all of the firms he was senior member. When Mr. Bradbury 
began practice, the Kennebec bar was, perhaps, unsurpassed in ability 
by any in the State, numbering, among others, such distinguished 
names as those of Reuel Williams, Peleg Sprague, George Evans, Fred- 
erick Allen, Timothy Boutelle, Samuel Wells, William Emmons, H. W. 
Fuller and Hiram Belcher. To obtain a foothold in a field so occupied 
required not only legal ability but untiring application and effort. 
His success was rapid and permanent. He soon had a large and 
remunerative practice, being employed from morning till night in office 
consultations and in court cases. He was devoted to his profession. 
He was a sound, thoroughly-read lawyer and a skillful and able advo- 
cate, who never failed to do justice to the cause of his client. 

In 1835, Mr. Bradbury was appointed by Governor Dunlap, County 
Attorney for Kennebec, an office he held for four years, discharging 
its duties with ability and fidelity. 

In politics, Mr. Bradbury was a " born democrat," and has ever 
remained true to the party. On coming to Augusta he became, for 
one year, editor of the Maine Patriot^ a democratic paper then pub- 
lished in the town ; and, wielding as he did a vigorous pen, he made 
the journal very acceptable to its patrons. He was a delegate to the 
Baltimore Convention of 1844, and, during the election of that year 
being chosen a presidential elector, was president of the electoral col- 
lege of the state, which cast its vote for James K. Polk. In the can- 
vass, Mr. Bradbury took the stump for Mr. Polk, speaking often and 
in different parts of the State, the leading issue being the admission of 
Texas into the Union. 

In 1846, Mr. Bradbury was elected United States Senator for six 
years, commencing March 4, 1847. He took his seat in the Senate, 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 253 

December 10, 18-47, at the beginning of the first session of the Forty- 
Third Congress. Tliirteen days after, his colleague Plonorable John 
Fairfield fell a victim to a hazardous surgical operation, and on the 
twenty-third of December, Mr. Bradbury announced his death to the 
Senate, and pronounced a fitting eulogy upon his life and character. 

Mr. Bradbury's entrance into the Senate occurred at a period of 
unusual interest in the legislation of the country, when the Mexican 
war and the slavery question absorbed its deliberations; and when 
such statesmen as Webster, Calhoun, Clay, Benton, Cass, Douglas, 
Seward and Chase occupied seats in that body. Mr. Bradbury gave 
an efficient support to the war measures of Mr. Polk's administration ; 
and when hostilities with Mexico ceased, he and his colleague W. B. S. 
Moore labored for th'e ratification of the treaty of peace, which secured 
us so much and was in danger of being rejected. 

In the assignment of the Senate committees, Mr. Bradbury was made 
chairman of the Committee on Printing, a member of the Committee 
on Claims and of the Judiciary Committee, upon the latter of which he 
continued to serve until the close of his term. The labors of the com- 
mittee were heavier than now, as the members had to draft their own 
bills and were unprovided with a clerk, but Mr. Bradbury never shrank 
from doing his full share of the work. 

July 24, 1850, Mr. Clay, from the Committee of thirteen, reported 
what is known as the " Compromise Bill," establishing territorial gov- 
ernments for New Mexico and Utah, and providing for the adjustment 
of the boundaries of Texas and for the payment of a stipulated 
amount for territory relinquished to the United States. The bill gave 
rise to a long debate, in which a large number of the members of the 
Senate (Mr. Bradbury among them) participated. It was a time of 
intense excitement, and, as subsequent events have proved, of great 
danger to the Union. Mr. Bradbury gave an earnest support to the 
bill as fair in its terms, and the only measure that could command a 
majority in Congress and quiet a controversy which threatened the 
peace of the country. It was designed to relieve Congress from the 
agitation of the subject of slavery in the territories, by placing its 
determination in the hands of the people of the respective territories 
themselves, where it could be safely lodged. Had Congress afterward 



254 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

adhered to the principle of the bill, we might have escaped the civil 
war, which followed the excitement that resulted from the repeal of 
the Missouri line restriction in the bill for the organization of Kansas 
in 1854. 

The conspicuous advocacy and harmonious co-operation of Mr. Clay 
and Mr. Webster, in aid of these plans of adjustment, led Mr. Brad- 
bury to entertain a profound admiration for their broad statesmanship 
and lofty patriotism ; and he has always regarded Mr. Webster's 
seventh of March speech as the most patriotic utterance of his life. 

In Senate, April, 1852, Mr. Bradbury made the leading argument in 
favor of the French Spoliation Bill ; and in reply to Senator Felch, of 
Michigan, who made an elaborate speech against it. The facts, figures 
and reasoning then presented by Mr. Bradbury possess the same inter- 
est today that they then did. The bill passed the Senate by a large 
majority. 

Mr. Bradbury was the originator of the movement which led to the 
establishment of the Court of Claims. In 1849, he offered a resolution 
for the establishment of such a board, and at the next session he pre- 
sented a carefully prepared bill, which was substantially the same as 
that passed by Congress the next year. 

n In 1852, Mr. Bradbury introduced a bill to indemnify Maine and 
Massachusetts for land conveyed to settlers this side the new boundary 
line under the treaty of Washington. He made a labored investiga- 
tion of the whole subject, and delivered a clear, convincing speech in 
favor of the bill, which received a passage. It was subsequently passed 
by the House and became a law. 

He also secured the passage of a bill for the payment to Maine of 
interest on money advanced by her in 1839-40, for military expenses 
incurred in the "Aroostook War." It was likewise through his efforts 
that the first appropriation was made by Congress for improving the 
navigation of the Kennebec River. 

Mr. Bradbury (as the columns of the Congressional Q-lohe will show) 
was an active and efficient member during his entire term of service in 
the Senate, looking carefully after the interests of his State and of the 
country. He was a ready debater and good speaker, who presented 
the strong points of a subject skillfully and with great clearness and 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 255 

force. He declined to be a candidate for re-election, and, at the close 
of his official service, resumed the practice of the law. 

As a citizen, Mr. Bradbury has ever taken an active interest in all 
public enterprises, and has been readv to give time and money to the 
advancement of those calculated to benefit the city of his adoption or 
the State at large. 

Mr. Bradbury, ever since his graduation, has kept up his interest in 
Bowdoin College — his latest act of service to that institution being in 
connection with the Dummer will case, settled a few months since. 
He was elected a member of the Board of Overseers in 1847, and a 
member of the Board of Trustees in 1861. In 1876, on the retirement 
of Judge Shepley, he was chosen chairman of the Committee on Finance, 
and has held the office to the present time. He received, in 1872, the 
honorary degree of ll. d. from the college. 

He has been an active member of the Maine Historical Society since 
1842, and was elected Corresponding Secretary in 1859 and President 
in 1874. He has been continued in office by annual elections from 
that date, and is now the onl}'- survivor of the forty-nine corporators. 
In 1846, he was influential in obtaining from the Legislature a grant 
of half a township of land for the society, which has been the means of 
placing it on a sound financial footing. He has also been an exemplary 
and useful member of the Congregational Church of Augusta, for more 
than thirty years, taking a deep interest, not only in the affairs of his 
own denomination, but also in the general progress of religion without 
reference to creeds. 

Mr. Bradbury married Miss Eliza Ann Smith, daughter of Thomas W. 
Smith, Esquire, a prosperous merchant of Augusta, November 25, 1834. 
Mrs. Bradbury was an excellent woman, affectionate, cheerful, fall of 
life and energy, and possessed of great executive ability — a model wife, 
mother and member of society. She died suddenly January 29, 1879, 
greatly lamented by her family and friends. Four children were the 
fruit of this marriage, Henry Westbrook, James Ware, junior, Thomas 
Westbrook Smith and Charles. Thomas W. died May 11, 1868, and 
James W. junior, September 21, 1876,— both in the prime of life and 
full of promise. Henry W. died June 10, 1884, leaving a wife and 
two children, one of whom has since died. These successive bereave- 



256 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

ments have left Mr. Bradbury with only one surviving son, Mr. Charles 
Bradbury, of Boston, and one surviving grandchild, the remaining 
daughter of Henry W. 

ALBION P. BENTON". 

Prominent among the active and enterprising citizens of Parsonsfield, 
from 1865 till his death December 11, 1886, was Albion P. Benton. 
He was born in Denmark, Maine, August 28, 1816, of a grand New 
England family, celebrated for heroism, patriotism and uncommon 
intellectual endowments. His grandfather. Doctor Joseph Benton, was 
a relative of the late distinguished statesman Colonel Thomas H. Ben- 
ton, of Missouri, and will be remembered by our eldest citizens as one 
of the most successful and celebrated physicians of his generation, who, 
having been called some fifty years ago to New Hampshire, in an epi- 
demic of fearful and fatal nature, arrested its ravages, cured every 
patient and on his return remarked, in his dry, peculiar humor, that he 
had " driven death through the Notch of the White Mountains and put 
up the bars." His five sons, Nathaniel S., Joseph D., Charles, Stephen 
P. and Alfred, the father of Albion P., all served in the War of 1812. 
Nathaniel S. and Charles became members of Congress, the latter also 
a judge. Reared amid scenes of hardship, toil and deprivation, incident 
to that early period, Albion P. Benton early developed those qualities 
of industry, economy, sagacity and self-reliance that became such prom- 
inent characteristics in his long and useful career. Inheriting nothing 
but his remarkable physical and mental powers, he was a self-made 
man ; his quick, acute mind grasped, as if by intuition, the salient 
points of an entei'prise, and obstacles that would have discouraged an 
ordinary man were swept away by the might of his restless, resistless 
energy. He was honorable and truthful in his dealings, courteous, but 
frank and straightforward, and the certainty that attended his words, 
deeds and principles became an important element in his character. 
Usefulness was the leading idea of his life, and his example and advice, 
based on ripe experience and good sense, were exceedingly valuable. 

In early life, he entered the primeval forest in Hiram, cleared a farm, 
built a home, and in 1843 he married Miss Sarah Wadsworth, of 
Hiram, a lady in every respect a worthy helpmeet. She died in Par- 




A. p. BENTON 




CfO H <nfAl*iefi .% CO BOSTON 



Homestead of the late A. P. Benton. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 257 

sonsfield, December 13, 1875. Of their ten children, eight survive, 
and have an honorable record in business and educational circles in 
two continents and five states of the Union. Mr. Benton passed two 
years in California, in 1853-54-55, meeting with good success. 

At the close of the war of 1861-65, the village of Kezar Falls was in a 
dull, lethargic state, business at a low ebb, and the rising generation 
was removing to other places ; a syndicate of gentlemen purchased the 
old dilapidated saw-mill and its site, and offered it to him if he would 
erect a new mill and settle in the town. He saw the golden oppor- 
tunity, accepted the offer, and on October 20, 1865, the mill was set 
in operation, inaugurating a new era and heralding a grander day for 
the beautiful village, which has never ceased to feel the impetus of his 
enterprise. 

On April 15, 1877, he married Miss Mary S. Pillsbury, of Parsons- 
field, who survives him. In 1868, he bought the Thomas Edgecomb 
farm, which he greatly improved, erecting a fine and commodious stand 
of buildings, as may be seen by the engraving. Here he resided in 
the evening of his life, enjoying a competency, honored by his towns- 
men, to whom he was ever just and obliging, and tenderly beloved 
by his family and friends, to whom he was ever kind, loyal and devoted, 
leaving them the legacy of a good example and a good name. 

JOHN AMES, 

From Newmarket, New Hampshire, came to Parsonsfield in 1787 and 
settled near " Province Pond." Here he reared a family of four sons, 
Samuel, John, Marston and Daniel. The two eldest left town, the two 
youngest settled in town, Marston on the home place and Daniel near 
by. Daniel died leaving no issue. Marston married Mary Manning, 
and reared a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters. 
One daughter married Titcomb Wentworth, of Newfield, and their only 
son John T. Wentworth occupies now the original Ames place in Par- 
sonsfield. Another daughter married John Sutton, of Parsonsfield. 
The youngest daughter married John Towne, of West Parsonsfield, 
one of the best farmers of our town and one who, by untiring effort, 
strict integrity and application of enlightened reason and research 
makes his business a success. 
17 



258 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

The two youngest sons, Daniel and Zimri, have for the past thirty- 
years been residents of Illinois. The two oldest, John M., who will 
receive notice further on, and Marston, junior, have until of late resided 
here. They were always among the most successful agriculturalists 
and stock-raisers of York County. Since the death of John M., the 
other brother, Marston, junior, has sold out his entire property in this 
region, and removed with his sister Mrs. Sutton to Illinois, leaving only 
one of the immediate family, Mrs. Towne, and none of the name as 
residents of our town. 

JOHN MANNING AMES. 
Son of Marston and Mary (Manning) Ames, was born in Parsons- 
field, April 10, 1816, and died at the same home, April 10, 1885. 
He was educated at the common school and Parsonsfield Seminary, 
and at an early age commenced teaching winter schools, which he 
continued to do for quite a number of years, in Ossipee and Hamp- 
ton, New Hampshire, and Parsonsfield, Sanford and other towns in 
York County, Maine; his efforts in this direction, always being success- 
ful. He was a very energetic and successful business man. In 1855, 
he, having made purchase of quite a number of land warrants, went 
West to locate them and spent one year in traveling through the west- 
ern states. However, he located but a few, making sale of the larger 
part. The half-section which he purchased proved a good investment, 
and later on he made several visits to the West and invested quite 
largely and advantageously in real estate in Illinois, where two of his 
brothers reside. He, in company with his brother Marston, was during 
this time and up to the date of his death extensively engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits and in buying and selling cattle, horses and sheep. 
To this business he devoted most of the time from 1867 to 1883, 
when failing health rendered him unable to perform the labor. He 
was a prominent Republican in the town and county, always decided 
and outspoken, but enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his associat'es 
as was evidenced from the fact that in this Democratic town he held 
the various offices of trust, and in 1862 was a member of the Legisla- 
ture. He had a wide acquaintance with men and a varied experience, 
and although sharp and incisive he was yet sympathetic and kind, to 




'""'^f,^ 



^ M c^/^^^-^ 



■'-jF^r ^^^3=<2?<^ 







i^" 



Wm. D. DIXON 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 259 

those whom he deemed worthy, dispensing of his bounty, in a quiet 
and unostentatious manner, quite liberally. He was never married. 
His friendships were very pronounced, and in his business transactions 
he was honorable and trusty, a good neighbor and a most worthy citi- 
zen and townsman. 

WILLIAM DENNETT DIXON, 

Son of John and Lydia Dixon, was the youngest of a family of seven 
children, and was born at Lebanon, Maine, March 25, 1802. His 
advantages for the acquirement of an education were small, being 
restricted to the district-school and early life, for at the age of sixteen 
years we find him employed learning the trade of harness making with 
John D. Buzzell, of North Parsonsfield. After serving his time with 
Mr. Buzzell, he went to Amesbury, Massachusetts, and worked in the 
employ of Colonel Bailey and Patten Sargent. This was when a day's 
work meant from twelve to fourteen hours' labor, and yet, with that 
energy and enterprise that ever characterized the man, he worked one 
winter over time, and earned enough stitching thoroughbraces to pur- 
chase him a suit of 4)roadcloth with overcoat, boots and silk hat. 
Bailey and Sargent were dealers in carriages, and they discovered in 
young Dixon that energy and push, combined with an intuitive knowl- 
edge of human nature, which would make for them a valuable sales- 
man, and they therefore furnished him with a team, and sent him across 
the country with a load of carriages for sale. It is said of him that on 
this trip he made two discoveries, acting upon which they became the 
basis of his future financial success ; one was, that he could sell more 
carriages than any other agent, and the other was, that there was 
"money in it." Therefore he determined to purchase his carriages 
and reap the benefits of the sales. He followed this business for eight 
years, his route being the border counties of Maine and New Hamp- 
shire, and his sales averaging more than eight thousand dollars a year. 
His business capacity and circumspection were evidenced in the fact 
that, though he sold much on trust, he has frequently been heard to 
remark that he never lost a cent in bad bills, not even a lashing strap. 
He married in 1832, Miss Mary A. Dearborn, daughter of Captain 
Jacob Dearborn, and settled at North Parsonsfield, where he died 



26o HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

April 16, 1875. They had two daughters, Mary A., who married 
Thomas S. Churchill, of Parsonsfield, and Ellen L., the wife of Jeremiah 
Bullock, of Kezar Falls, Maine. Mrs. Dixon died October 30, 1878, 
and Mrs. Churchill, December 30 of the same year, leaving Mrs. Bul- 
Bullock the only survivor of the family. 

The traits of character which have been alluded to as prominent in 
the make-up of Mr. Dixon, were very pronounced during life. He 
was a great financier and accumulated much property. As a business 
man he was careful and exacting, as a friend, kind and generous, a 
liberal provider, an obliging neighbor and a good citizen. 

THE PEASES IN PARSONSFIELD. 

The Parsonsfield Peases trace their ancestry to Nathaniel Pease who 
died in the town of New Market, New Hampshire, in 1748. The 
writer has been unable to learn the given name of his father or his 
final place of settlement and death, though it is stated on the authority 
of Mr. Mark Pease, a grandson of Nathaniel Pease, that his great- 
grandfather came from Martha's Vineyard, and was killed by hostile 
Indians while at work in his corn-field. 

Be that as it may, Nathaniel Pease was a carpenter and a purchaser 
of land, and settled in New Market when a part of Exeter, where he 
died October 20, 1748. He therefore represents the first generation of 
New Hampshire Peases. 

Nathaniel Pease had thirteen children, the second of whom, Deacon 
Samuel Pease (he having been a deacon in the Congregational Church 
at New Market), came to Parsonsfield, October 1, 1777. The writer 
has in his possession* the original deed given by Thomas Parsons, 
esquire, to Deacon Samuel Pease. This deed is dated Septemter 26, 
1777, and contains the following : " I, Thos. Parsons, of Leavitt's 
Town, in consideration of the sum of Thirty Nine pound Law" money, 
to me in Hand before the Delivery hereof well and Truely Paid by 
Samuel Pees of New Market, in the County of Rockingham, yeoman, 
the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge have Released and Quit 
Claim .... unto him, the said Samuel Pees, .... all the Right 

*The writer is under great obligation to Mr. H. G. O. Smith, of North Parsonsfield, for loaning him 
■many valuable, original papers relative to the New Hampshire Peases. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 26 1 

and Title Share of, in and unto a Certain Lot of land numbered Twenty 
Third in the second Range of lots in a Certain Tract of Land about 
Six miles sqr. commonly Called Parsons Town situate in the County of 
York in the State of Massachusetts Bay. Between the Rivers of Great 
and Little Ossipee, which Right and Title I Derived from the Proprie- 
tors of Major Nicholas Shapleigh's Claim by Virtue of their Grant to 
me dated at Berwick, December, 1774." 

Deacon Pease moved his family to his new home in November, 1779. 
He was the eleventh of the original settlers of Parsonsfield. He died 
in 1805. Of his eight children, only two, Samuel and Joseph, settled 
near their father. Major Samuel Pease was born March 10, 1754, and 
settled in the orchard of the present Town farm. He was a drum- 
major in the Revolutionary War. In a " Revolutionary Claim," before 
the writer, he is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of eight dollars 
per month. He died September 7, 1834. He had six children, only 
one of whom, John, settled in Parsonsfield. 
,<, Joseph Pease, brother of Major Samuel, was born November 12, 
N'^^ l^mr; married Dolly Clark and settled in Parsonsfield. About nS^^ \^0\ 
he removed to the settlement at Exeter, Maine. He was a member of 
the first Board of Selectmen in 1811, and died in 1826. His daughter 
Sarah married Nathaniel Barker, of Exeter, Maine, and was the mother 
of the Honorable Lewis Barker of Bangor, Maine, and the late David 
Barker, the poet. 

The next Pease, in point of time, to settle in Parsonsfield was Zebu- 
LON Pease, eldest son of Nathaniel and Lucy (Page) Pease, of New 
Market, New Llampshire, and first cousin of Major Samuel Pease, of 
Parsonsfield. His children were: Nathaniel, born November 26, 1786; 
Andrew, born May 13, 1788 ; Betsey, born September 24, 1791 ; Martha, 
born January 20, 1794 ; and Zebulon, born September 21, 1795. 

Major Zebulon was fresh from the ranks of the Revolution, and was 
among the earliest settlers of Parsonsfield, being on the ground as 
early as 1783 or '84, while the name was yet Parsonstown. From his 
family sprang most all, if not quite, of the Peases who have had any 
permanent connection with the growth of the town ; and from this one 
family probably have descended more persons than lived in Parsonsfield 
w hen it was incorporated. 



262 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Asa Pease, brother of the preceding, was born July 18, 1769 ; mar- 
ried Sally Parsons, October 23, 1791, and settled in Parsonsfield. He 
had nine children, but as none of them settled in Parsonsfield their 
names are omitted here. Asa Pease came from New Market and set- 
tled on Lombard's hill before the incorporation of the town. He was 
the high buck of early times. A ready wit, a born poet and comic 
actor, he was the life of public gatherings. He gave names to many 
buildings, among others, Rolfe's meeting-house. He would walk up a 
rafter to the ridge-pole, stand on his head, drink a glass of grog, 
announce the name in poetry, then on his way down turn a somersault. 

Pease was at a log-rolling. Bent on mischief, he laid a bet that he 
would crawl through a hollow log one minute quicker than any one 
present. He went through but when his opponent was only half- 
through. Pease gave the log a push that sent it rolling down the steep 
hill. The man was drawn out apparently dead, but he revived and 
was found uninjured. 

JosiAH Pease, brother of the preceding, married Nancy Parsons and 
first settled in Parsonsfield, but sometime before 1812 removed to New- 
fane, New York. He had eight children. 

The first representative of the fourth generation to settle in Parsons- 
field, (and probably the first Pease born in Parsonsfield after its incor- 
poration,) was Deacon John Pease, eldest son of Major Samuel and 
Comfort Pease. He was born March 21, 1786 ; married first, Sally 
Wiggin, January, 1811 ; and second, Hannah Mason, September 5, 
1827. He died March 13, 1853. Deacon Pease is still well remem- 
bered by some of the residents of Parsonsfield. 

Nathaniel Pease (grandfather of the writer), eldest son of Zebulon 
and Mary (Burleigh) Pease, and second cousin of Deacon John Pease, 
was born November 26, 1786. He was, therefore, the junior of Deacon 
Pease by only about eight months. He married Olive Towne, March 
21, 1816, and settled in Parsonsfield, where he died January 25, 1863. 

His youngest brother, Zebulon Pease, junior, whose portrait here 
appears, was a man of marked ability. He married Miss Mary Pease, 
of New Market, and moved to Freedom, New Hampshire, where his 
active life was passed. They reared a family of three children, Nar- 
ijissa, Edwin and Albion. (The youngest died in early manhood. 




^'*.-* 



Hon. ZEBULON pease. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 263 

Edwin married Miss Harriet, daughter of Gardner Smart, of Parsons- 
field, was engaged in mercantile business for some years at Freedom, 
then moved to Conway and died there in 1879. He was a man of 
ability and a prominent politician in Carroll County, serving in both 
branches of the Legislature. He left one son Ned, now resident in St. 
Louis, Missouri. Narcissa married Burleigh Pease, Esquire, of Parsons- 
field, and they have resided for many years in Bangor, Maine). Mr. 
Pease was for many years engaged in mercantile business in Freedom, 
and also quite largely in agricultural pursuits. He was a man who 
occupied a prominent position in the town, serving in various ofiices, 
and twice as Representative. He was also twice elected to the Senate 
of New H'ampshire, and was during the administration of Governor 
Jared Williams, a member of his Council. 

He was a very successful financier, a business man of integrity and 
uprightness, a townsman respected and esteemed, and a husband and 
father beloved and honored. 

Burleigh Pease was born at South Parsonsfield, August 13, 1823. 
After remaining on the farm till the age of twenty, and having no 
advantages of education except a few weeks of the winter school (such 
as it was), he fitted himself for college, and was graduated from Colby 
University in the class of 1851. He studied law with the Honorable 
Nathan Clifford, of Portland, Maine, was admitted to the bar, and 
opened a law-ofiice in Bangor, where he practiced a short time very 
successfully. But being wedded to the profession of teaching, which 
he had so successfully practiced during the winters of his preparatory 
and college course, he relinquished the law and returned to teaching in 
the public schools of Bangor, where he now lives. Here his faculty for 
organizing and disciplining large schools was recognized by the uniting 
of school after school and grade after grade, until, in the last years of 
his labor, his school numbered eight hundred and fifty pupils with 
seventeen assistant teachers. He was connected with the public 
schools of Bangor a quarter of a century, and served in the City Coun- 
cil two years. November 18, 1855, he married Narcissa, the only 
daughter of the late Honorable Zebulon Pease, of Freedom, New 
Hampshire. 



264 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

ELISHA PIPER 

Was one of the early settlers of Parsonsfield. He was born in Strat- 
ham, New Hampshire, June 17, 1746. At an early age he married 
Sarah Barker, and after living in Stratham a few years, he purchased 
a farm in Wakefield, New Hampshire, not far from Province Pond, and 
moved there with his family about 1772. He lived there between 
eight and nine years, but* the farm proving frosty, he resolved to sell, 
and purchase in some other locality. He directed his course to the 
new town of Parsonsfield, or Parsonstown, as it was then called. A 
short time was occupied in prospecting for a farm in the fall season of 
1778, and during that time, he amused himself about a week in hunting 
with George Kezar, a famous hunter, who then resided in the north 
part of the town. A farm was soon selected, and he first purchased 
lot No. 25, in the second range, of Benjamin Hilton, of Parsonstown, 
for one hundred and twenty-five pounds,* the deed being dated Novem- 
ber 5, 1778, and on this lot he settled. He subsequently purchased 
four other lots — lot No. 171, in the tenth range, of Alpheus Spring, of 
Kittery, for five pounds, deed dated November 28, 1785; lot No. 51, 
in the third range, of John Brown, of Parsonsfield, for five hundred 
dollars, deed dated May 13, 1790 ; lot No. 13, in the first range, which 
was a tax sale, for six shillings and two pence, deed dated June 27, 
1791 ; lot No. 88, in the fifth range, of Chase Wiggin of Stratham, 
New Hampshire, for forty-five pounds, deed dated February 15, 1793. 
In June, 1779, the next year after his first purchase, he came over 
from Wakefield to Parsonsfield, built him a log camp, covered with 
hemlock bark, and felled several acres of trees. He then returned to 
his family in Wakefield, and in March of the next year, 1780, went 
back to Parsonsfield. As there were no roads passable for teams at 
that season of the year, he hauled his camp furniture, consisting of a 
bed and a few cooking-utensils, on a hand-sled over Ricker's Mountain 
on the crust. Before the season arrived for burning the trees felled 
the previous season, he was employed in preparing materials for build- 
ing a log-house for his family. In May he burned the felled trees, and 
planted the ground with corn and such other crops as he would need 
for the support of his family the next winter. His planting was all 

*A pound was worth at that time about three dollars, thirty-three and one-third cents. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 265 

completed before the nineteenth of May, and on that day, which was 
the famous Dark Day * of 1780, he was helping bis neighbor, Mr. 
George Bickford, finish planting his corn. After his crops were har- 
vested, and his log-house completed, he returned to Wakefield again to 
move his family, consisting of his wife and six small children. He 
moved with an ox-team on the snow, late in the year 1780, probably in 
December, as the day is represented as having been extremely cold — 
the coldest of that winter. 

He was now in the prime of life, being thirty-two years of age when 
he made his first purchase in 1778, and with his wife, who was two 
years younger, and his children around him, was fairly settled down to 
the business of farming, which he pursued successfully and scientifi- 
cally, although he had never received any instruction in scientific 
farming. His whole mind was absorbed in his business. His land was 
fertile and his crops abundant. The log-house was succeeded in a few 
years by a neat one-story frame-house, and finally, in about 1812, a 
story was added to this, and the whole neatly finished and painted. It 
is now standing, and occupied by his descendant Samuel F. Piper. The 
lower story is nearly, if not quite, a hundred years old. 

To each of two of his sons he gave a farm, and assisted the others in 
purchasing theirs. To each of his daughters he gave the usual sum of 
one hundred dollars, as her marriage portion. He always kept money 
by him, usually not less than one hundred dollars, and I have known 
him to have five hundred in his desk at a time, obtained from the sale 
of stock and products of the farm. He did not permit any of his 
neighbors to be in advance of him in any of their farm work, or sur- 
pass him in their farm products. 

His farm stock was of good breed and carefully selected; and having 
good pasturage, and being fed in winter on hay cured in the best man- 
ner and of the best quality, it was unsurpassed in size and beauty by 
any in town. It, therefore, sold for the highest market prices. He 
kept one hired man through the year, and in the haying season one 
additional and sometimes two, if needed to secure the crop at the best 

* I have often heard him speak of the Dark Day as being a very wonderful phenomenon. The darkness 
began about ten o'clock in the forenoon, and was so great that candles had to be lighted, common print 
could not be read, fowls retired to their roost, and cattle returned to the barn. It continued about four- 
teen hours. Its cause has never been satisfactorily explained. It was not an eclipse. Meteorologists 
think that it was caused by a very dense vapor, charged, perhaps, with foreign matter, which shut out the 
light of the sun ; but how the vapor was produced is unknown. See an interesting account of it in a 
work entitled Our First Century, from which the preceding has been taken. 



266 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

time for cutting it ; so that his haying was always finished in season, 
generally about the end of July, and the hay was of the choicest kind. 
In person, he was of middle size, quick and active, and of the Anglo- 
Saxon type. He was a religious man and never omitted to ask a bless- 
ing at the table. He died March 10, 1836, on the homestead, at the 
age of about ninety years. 

JONAlTHAN PIPER 

Was born in Parsonsfield, December 30, 1788, and for many years was 
a prominent citizen of the town and county in which he resided. He 
received a good common-school and academical education, the latter of 
which he completed at Fryeburg Academy, under the instruction of 
Daniel Webster, who had charge of the institution at that time and 
afterward became so distinguished as a lawyer, orator and statesman. 
He often spoke of Mr. Webster, and of the high estimation in which 
he was then held for his abilities, by the Trustees of the Academy. 

He married Mary Burbank, of Parsonsfield, daughter of Silas Bur- 
bank, Captain in the Army of the Revolution, and had a family of 
three sons and one daughter. He settled in Parsonsfield, on the South 
road, opposite the residence of his father, where he lived many years, 
and where all his children were born. He subsequently, in 1837, 
moved to the North road. He adopted the business of farming and 
teaching for a livelihood. He was engaged in teaching a part of the 
time for about thirty years, and attained a high reputation as a good 
disciplinarian and thorough instructor. He was not, however, born for 
a farmer, and never took a deep interest in the business like his father ; 
yet he made it a success, having begun with a farm worth a thousand 
dollars, and ending with a farm and other landed property worth at 
least six times that sum. He had a natural love for books and reading, 
and would often sit up till twelve o'clock at night, after the severe 
labors of the day on the farm, reading history, travels and poetry, so 
that he became well acquainted with the history and literature of his 
own and other countries. He had also some taste for music, could read 
it readily, and sung in the church choir for many years. On the tenor 
drum he was a first-class player, and major drummer of* his regiment. 

In politics he was a whig and subsequently a republican, but not a 




^_^tprT.ti^t^/^^ci^^^ C^t/t^4^ 



I 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 267 

partisan; and although he was unreserved in expressing his opinions, 
he never lost the confidence of his political opponents in his integrity. 
Notwithstanding the democratic party was largely in the majority, he 
was elected nine years in succession a selectman of the town, and most 
of the time was chairman of the board. He was a member of the 
superintending school committee for twelve years, a Justice of the 
Peace, and for many years was extensively engaged in land-surveying. 
He was also one of the surveyors appointed to determine the boundary 
line between Maine and New Hampshire, and County Commissioner 
for York County. 

In person, he was a little below the middle size, decided in action, 
and quick in all he did. He was of high integrity and moral charac- 
ter, and gained the confidence and respect of those with whom he 
associated. He died in Parsonsfield, July 11, 1873, at his residence 
near Parsonsfield Seminary, where he had lived after leaving the South 
road. He was eighty-four years of age at the time of his death. 

REDMAN. 

Captain Tristram Redman, late of Parsonsfield, son of David Red- 
man, was born in Scarboro, Massachusetts, 1770. His grandparents 
from England were early settlers in New Hampton, Massachusetts. 
At the age of eighteen. Captain Redman shipped as a common sailor 
on board a vessel, which sailed from Bath, Maine. In three years he 
became master of the same vessel, — studied navigation while perform- 
ing the duties of his subordinate position ; he soon rose into note as a 
man of strict integrity and a successful shipmaster. At the age of 
thirty, he married Miss Hannah Burbank, and located in Saco, Maine. 
During the French embargo, while on a voyage from Liverpool, his 
vessel was captured by a French privateer. With the assistance of his 
mate and small cabin boy, he retook the vessel, delivered his prisoners 
to the English Admiral, at Bristol, and brought his vessel safely into 
New York harbor. 

Being engaged in navigation during the war with England, in 1812, 
Captain Redman met with heavy losses. 

In 1815, he moved with his family to Parsonsfield, and engaged in 
farming and merchandising. He was a close observer of men and 



268 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

events, and a great reader. He retained the powers of body and mind 
to a remarkable degree. Many times did he say that he never sailed 
into a foreign port without a feeling of noble pride in his country's 
flag. 

He died in Parsonsfield at the age of eighty-three years. Hl!s wife 
died seven years previous. She was a true Christian. Of his three chil- 
dren only one remains, Mrs. Hannah (Redman) Lord,* who resides in 
Springfield, Missouri. 

Doctor Tristram Redman, eldest son, died in Cherryfield, Maine, in 
1861. Lorenzo, many years a resident of Parsonsfield, passed the 
later years of life with his only daughter, Mrs. Mendonca, wife of Bra- 
zilian Consul-General in New York City. He died in 1880, comforted 
by the assurances of the " Sacred Book." 

REVEREND ASA DALTON, D. D. 

No lineal descendant of Mr. Samuel Dalton remains in Parsonsfield, 
and only one bearing the name in Maine, viz. : Rev. Asa Dalton, d. d., 
Portland, who has been Rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in 
that city for nearly a quarter of a century. Dr. Dalton is by several 
years the senior settled minister in Portland, and his parish is the 
oldest of the Episcopal Churches, not only in that city but in Maine. 
He is a pronounced Protestant Episcopalian, being in hearty sympathy 
and most cordial and fraternal relations with the several Protestant 
churches of the city. He has also for more than a generation been 
actively identified with the various charitable and educational inter- 
ests of Portland and the state, having been for years a member and 
officer of the Maine Bible Society, Young Men's Christian Association, 
Portland Fraternity, Harvard Club of Maine, Maine Historical Society, 
etc. He has for a number of years given an annual course of free lec- 
tures on literary and. scientific subjects, which have been largely 
attended and highly appreciated by the citizens of Portland. Many 
of these lectures have been repeated before college societies, normal 
schools and various clubs in different parts of the state. 

Dr. Dalton is a graduate of Harvard, class of 1848. He is in good 
health and bids fair to live and labor for years to come in his native 
state. 

* This sketch was prepared by Mrs. Lord, eighty-one years of age. 




Stc./f I 



'•■"•■"->.,„ 



Rev. ASA OALTON O.D. 

neCltR . ST. SIEPHtNS CHURCH 

POSTIAND ME. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 269 

» ADAM WILSON, D. D., 

Was born in Topshara, Maine, February 10, 1794, united with the 
Baptist Church in 1816, graduated from Bowdoin College in 1819, was 
ordained to the gospel ministry in 1820, and died January 16, 1871. 
His long and fruitful labors and ministry were given to his native 
state. He was pastor at Saco, Paris, Bangor and other important cen- 
ters, and was also for many years the editor and proprietor of Zion's 
Advocate^ of which he was the founder and which he conducted with 
much ability. To this day, it is the recognized organ of the Baptists of 
Maine. As editor, preacher and pastor, he easily ranked among the 
able men of the state, whether of his own or other denominations. 
Calm, self-poised, faithful to his convictions and fearless of everything 
but wrong, his life was a great power for good to the world. Intem- 
perance and human oppression found in him an uncompromising foe, 
while the gospel of Christ, in its broad and blessed scope, in like man- 
ner, found in him an advocate and herald of marked ability, of clean- 
out convictions and of high-toned Christian living. The cause of 
education also was to him a subject of much thought and of many 
sacrifices. 

In his wife Sally H., daughter of Deacon Dominicus and Susanna 
(Perkins) Ricker, he possessed a companion of kindred qualities and 
aims. Together they wrought. out results in their various fiields of 
labor that, for generations to come, must prove a standing benediction 
to the race. 

REV. JOSEPH RICKER, D. D. 

(by dr. wm. b. lapham.) 

(See page 57 for portrait.) 

Joseph Ricker was born in Parsonsfield, June 27, 1814. He was 
the son of Deacon Dominicus Ricker by his second wife Susanna Per- 
kins, of Wells. Until he was eighteen years of age, Mr. Ricker lived 
upon the farm with his parents, and as soon as he was old enough, he 
assisted in cultivating the paternal acres. The next three years he 
spent in teaching and in study at Gorham Academy, Parsonsfield Sem- 
inary and select schools in the neighborhood of his home. During a 
considerable portion of the time he worked morning and evening in 



270 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

payment for his board. He then entered Waterville College, now 
Colby University, and for lack of means he was, for long periods, 
obliged to board himself and practice the strictest economy. He 
received no assistance from education societies and scarcely any from 
individuals, being obliged to depend mainly upon his own resources for 
the means to pay his college obligations. He did not suffer these 
obstacles to interfere with his onward progress, and, indeed, they really 
became helps in developing those traits of independence and self- 
reliance which have characterized his career. He graduated from the 
college in 1839, at the age of twenty-five, with one of the highest 
assignments of his class. 

Upon the completion of his college course. Dr. Ricker was called to 
the editorial charge of the Zion's Advocate, the organ of the Baptist 
denomination in Maine, then, as now, published in Portland. This 
was a responsible position for a young man just out of college, but he 
proved equal to the demands of the situation, and filled the place with 
marked ability for nearly four years. January 1, 1813, he retired 
from the paper and entered upon what he regarded as his life-work, 
and to which his previous labors and studies had only been preparatory 
— that of the gospel ministry. For a period of twenty-nine years to 
1872, with the exception of two years and a half, when he served as 
chaplain of the Massachusetts State Prison, he was successively and 
continuously employed by the Baptist Churches in New Gloucester 
and Belfast, Maine, Woburn and Milford, Massachusetts, and Augusta, 
Maine. Simultaneously with his pastoral labors in the two states, he 
served as Secretar}'- of the Massachusetts Baptist Convention for seven 
years, of the Maine Baptist Convention for two years, and as chaplain 
of the Maine Insane Hospital two years. He was elected Secretary of 
the Maine Baptist Convention in 1869, and two years later he resigned 
the pastorate of the church in Augusta, that he might devote his entire 
time and energies to the superintendence of state missionary-work, 
supplemented by labors to promote the growth and efficiency of the 
educational institutions of his denomination. 

In 1849, Doctor Ricker was elected a trustee of Waterville College, 
and in the period of service, since the death of Honorable Abner 
Coburn, he ranks all the members of the Board. He has never been 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 27I 

absent from Commencement since his election as trustee, and only in a 
single instance since his graduation. In 1868, the college, which had 
now become Colby University, conferred upon him the well-earned 
degree of Doctor of Divinity. 

It has fallen to his lot to raise a large amount of money for the pur- 
poses of his denomination. A portion of this sum was for the building 
of church edifices, and for the supply of the current needs of the con- 
vention, whose interests he had in charge, and the remainder for the 
three training schools connected with Colby University, respectively 
located at Waterville, Hebron and Houlton. In the Houlton school, 
his sympathy and interest have been shown in a manner so marked, 
that, by recent legislative enactment, it is hereafter to be known as 
"Ricker Classical Institute." This change was made in response to 
the unanimous action of the Houlton Board of Trustees and the 
University Board, and in accordance with the expressed wishes of the 
friends and patrons of the institution, and is a fitting acknowledgment 
of the important services rendered by Doctor Ricker, whose personal 
gifts to the schools, it is understood, will amount to about ten thousand 
dollars. Nor is this all, since it was through his influence and agency 
that the sum of- thirty thousand dollars was obtained for the erection of 
a building commensurate with its needs. This timely and munificent 
gift was from the widow of the late Judge W. E. Wording, who was a 
graduate of Colby University and a life-long friend of Doctor Ricker. 
The name of the new structure is to be Wording Hall, and it will be 
a fitting and perpetual monument to the memory of an able, honest 
and worthy man. Doctor Ricker's other gifts to his Alma Mater and 
to various missionary organizations connected with his denomination, 
aggregate about five thousand dollars. 

After a perusal of the foregoing sketch of the work accomplished by 
Doctor Ricker, no one need be told that his life has been a very busy 
one. Such indeed is the fact. Few Maine men have led busier or 
more useful lives, and few, if any, have accomplished as much in the 
interest of the Baptist denomination as he. And the interests which 
he has been the means of promoting are among the most important, 
and will be perpetual and far-reaching in their influence and results. 
It was largely through his influence that the three training schools 



272 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

and feeders to Colby University have been placed upon a sound and 
substantial financial basis, and that the University itself has attained 
high rank among the institutions of learning in the land. To accom- 
plish these ends, Doctor Richer has labored untiringly and persistently, 
oftentimes under the most discouraging circumstances. And now, in 
the full fruition of what he has so ardently hoped and so long labored 
for, he is to be warmly congratulated. Not every one is thus permitted 
to witness the grand results of their many years of labor. 

As a preacher, Doctor Richer early took high rank, and as a concise 
and logical writer, he has no superiors among the ministers of his 
denomination in the State. He possesses naturally a logical mind, 
and his early editorial experience contributed its share in perfecting his 
clear and concise style of composition. His popularity as a pastor is 
abundantly shown in his long pastoral service and few settlements. 
He possesses those qualities of head and heart which endear him to all 
with whom he is brought in contact, whether it be in the church or in 
the secular affairs of life. He has been more than the good preacher 
and the good pastor ; he has been a good citizen, faithfully and conscien- 
tiously discharging all his duties as such. His popularity has never 
been limited to his own church or denomination. By his affability, his 
genial good nature, and his charitable toleration of the opinions of 
those who have differed from him, he has won and held the respect of 
all. His financial abilities are certainly deserving of brief mention. 
Not many ministers with the salary paid during his pastorate, could 
support a family and put aside enough so as to be able to donate fifteen 
thousand dollars to the cause of religion and of education. Economy, 
prudence and sagacity in the investment of his surplus funds, supple- 
mented by the helpful sympathy of his estimable wife, have accom- 
plished all this, and accomplished it without resort to speculation of 
any kind. And now, after such liberal donations, it is pleasant to 
know that he has a competency laid by for himself and for those 
dependent upon him. 

Doctor Richer is passing his declining years in Augusta, the city of 
his adoption, still laboring so far as his health and strength will permit, 
in overseeing the management of the Maine Missionary field ; inter- 
ested in temperance, humanity and progress ; interested also in public 





Capt. HARVEY M.TOWLE 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 2 J 2, 

affairs at home and abroad, and serene and happy in the consciousness 
of a well-spent life. 

HARVEY MOORE TOWLE, 

Son of Simeon and Betsy (Moore) Towle, and grandson of Levi and 
Ruth Towle, who were amongst the first settlers of Parsonsfield, was 
born in that town in 1801, and died in Bradford, Massachusetts, in 
1877. He was twice married, first to Clarissa Knapp, who died in 
1829, and afterward to Chastina S. Morse, who survived him a few 
years. 

" Captain " Towle was for many years actively identified with the 
best interests of his native town, which he faithfully served as school 
teacher and committee, selectman and representative, and his influence 
over the young in favor of education was great. He was a man of 
positive opinions and strong feelings and sympathies, and ardently 
aided whatever he thought for the public good. For the last twenty- 
five years of his life he resided in Bradford, Massachusetts, of which 
town he was many years treasurer, and there, no less than at his old 
home, he had the confidence, respect and friendship of those most 
actively interested in education, morality and religion. 

HARRISON" GRAY OTIS SMITH. 

The first American ancestor of this family, John Smith, came from 
England in 1631, and settled near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Hig 
son or grandson located in Durham, whence Thomas, grandfather of 
Harrison G. O. Smith, came to Newfield when the town was a wilder- 
ness. Stephen Moulton, grandfather on the mother's side, emigrated 
from Hampton to that town early as 1777. Through these relations 
and their associates, Mr. Smith became familiar during boyhood with 
the names and history of man}'- pioneers of Newfield and Parsonsfield. 

Mr. Smith worked on his father's farm till of age, attended the dis- 
trict school winters till seventeen, and later, prepared for college at 
Limerick Academy. Followed teaching more or less up to 1850, when 
he removed to Parsonsfield and engaged in farming. He was superin. 
tending school committee from 1852 to '56. Represented Parsonsfield 
18 



2 74 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

and Cornish in the Legislature in 1870 and 1871. In 1885, he was 
chosen a member of the Centennial Committee and by that committee 
assigned to the investigation of historical events. 

He was author of the paper on grants and surveys, early settlements, 
acts of incorporation and organization, which was presented at the cen- 
tennial celebration, and which is incorporated in the "History of 
Parsi nsfiild," Second Part of this work, of which he is author. 

IRA MORE, 

Youngest son of Isaac More, born May 20, 1829. Thrown on his own 
resources in his twelfth year by the death of his father, he struggled up 
through boyhood with some difficulty ; went to Massachusetts in 1847 ; 
graduated at the State Normal School, at Bridgewater, in 1849 ; after- 
ward taught in the same school and in Hingham, Milton and Newbury- 
port ; graduated at the Scientific Department of Yale College in 1865. 
Was elected first assistant of the Chicago High School in 1856, and 
helped to organize that institution, especially the normal department 
of it. Married that year, Lucy C, the youngest daughter of Winborn 
Drew, of Newfield. In 1857, was elected to the mathematical depart- 
ment of the Illinois Normal University at Bloomington. In the sum- 
mer of 1861, enlisted in the Thirty-third Regiment Illinois Infantry. 
Saw three years of hard service, the siege and capture of Vicksburg 
being one of the campaigns. Resigned as Captain of Company G in 
the summer of 1864, broken in health by the malaria of the western 
Louisiana ba3^ous. Removed to Minnesota in the spring of 1865. 
Was professor of mathematics in the University of Minnesota at Min- 
neapolis, 1867-69. In this latter year was appointed principal of the 
Minnesota State Normal School at St. Cloud. Emigrated to California 
1875, and taught in the State Normal School at San Jose until 1883, 
since which time he has been principal of the State Normal School at 
Los Angeles, California. 

Although he has visited Parsonsfield but few times since leaving the 
state of Maine in 1847, his recollectious of boyhood days are very 
vivid. Living with his grandfather, on the next farm, was a boy of 
the same age as himself, Samuel K. Towle, now Doctor Towle, of 
Hampton, Virginia. The two boys were inseparable playmates, a 






ay 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 275 

friendship that has held to the present time, letters still occasionally 
passing back and forth between their widely separated homes. Not 
far away, in the same school district and neighborhood, and nearl}'- of 
the same age, was William D. Knapp, now Judge Knapp of Somersworth, 
New Hampshire. Among the boys of the same school were L. O. 
Emerson, famous for his musical work, and Daniel Wentworth, lately 
laid to rest with many tears at the Chicago Normal School, and suc- 
ceeded in his work by Colonel Parker, of Quincy fame. 

The little old square schoolhouse where the four roads met, and the 
stern-faced men and women who made themselves a terror to the evil- 
doers therein, will not soon be forgotten. The steep and rounded hills 
made fine coasting ground, and the hollows filled by the January thaw 
made skating almost equal to flying. In the summer, too, the pebbly 
soil furnished excellent material for training the arm muscles. The 
writer remembers feelingly the descent of a stone sent upwards by the 
stalwart arm of Sam Tibbetts. It broke through the cap, both cloth 
and lining, but was safely stopped by an extra thickness and toughness 
of skull. He i-emembers too, with sorrow, that a random stone from 
his own sling cut a deep gash in the upper lip of Judge Knapp, the 
mark of which may be very plainly seen to this day. 

The sling of those days was made after the old King David pattern, 
of two long leather thongs, attached to a wider piece with a hole in 
the center to keep the stone from slipping out. It was swung two or 
three times around the head, and discharged by loosing the hold upon 
one string. The stone went with great force but very uncertain in 
direction. We were not Benjamites, who could " sling at an hair and 
not miss." In fact, I knew one unlucky fellow who took a barn-door 
for target and sent a stone crashing through a window high up in the 
gable end of the barn. Perhaps the boys of that school district still 
sling stones as their predecessors did fifty years ago ; but more prob- 
ably it is one of the "lost arts" of a vigorous but semi-barbarous age. 

JOHN MERRILL, 

Father of John I. Merrill, deserves more than a passing mention among 
those who gave a sterling reputation to the town of Parsonsfield, in 
the first part of the present century. He was born in Newbury, Mas- 



276 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

sacbusetts, in 1780, and when a youth of seventeen, in company with 
an older brother, drove an ox-team from his home to Parsonsfield (the 
road from Limerick being rough, and mostly through a wilderness). 
He returned to Newbury the same year, but a few years later went 
again to Parsonsfield, settling on " Merrill's Hill," between the villages 
of the " Middle " and "North Roads." 

In 1803, he married Miss Mary Mills, daughter of John and Mary 
Mills, of Effingham, New Hampshire. Their married life was a notable 
example of successful industry, of praiseworthy frugality, of generous 
hospitality, and of domestic comfort. They were happy in their family 
of one son and seven daughters, all of whom were of the highest repu- 
tation from their early years. 

Sarah, the eldest, married Simon Brown and settled in Parsonsfield. 
Rebecca married Henry Merrill, and also settled in her native town. 
Mary married Doctor William B. Pike, of Cornish, Maine, where she 
resided until her decease. Mehitable died in early womanhood, unmar- 
ried. Abigail married Richard Horn, and settled in Roxbury, Massa- 
chusetts. Cynthia W. was twice married, her last husband, Albert 
Batchelder, esquire, still surviving her. They also lived in Roxbury. 
John Jay Merrill married Harriet Josephine, daughter of Colonel 
Josiah Browne, of Rockingham County, New Hampshire, in 1850. 
Annette married Reverend Doctor David H. Lord. They lived some 
years in Michigan, but now reside in Brooklyn, New York. Only 
John Jay and Annette, the youngest two, are now living. 

The mother, after a life of devotion to the interests of her family, 
and of pure Christian example to the community around her, died in 
1837. The father, after a long life of successful thrift, that made him 
one of the wealthiest men of his town, died in January, 1857, leaving a 
stainless character as an additional and most valuable legacy to his chil- 
dren and friends. Hs is still remembered by old persons as among the 
original and active supporters of that excellent academical institution, 
"Parsonsfield Seminary." 

JOHN JAY MERRILL, 

The only son of John and Mary Merrill, was born in Parsonsfield, 
April 16, A. D. 1821.* His earl}'- life was passed in the midst of the 

• On the farm now occupied by a cousin, Joseph Merrill, the oldest man in the town. 



'::X^-i 




e« « w(iu<«4"' 



^-/ai^.^ ^ JJj^^i^uiZl. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 277 

most healthful influences of New England society. Fortunate in the 
careful training of intelligent and watchful parents, and educated 
under the tuition of Rev. Hosea Quiraby, the first " Preceptor of Par- 
sonsfield Academy," then in its first brilliant glow of success. He 
developed the sterling qualities of honesty, business capacity and quiet 
reflection, which have distinguished his later career, on a broader field 
of life. 

In 1846, he established himself in Roxbury, now Boston, engaging 
in the building lumber trade extensively, and in the purchase and sale 
of real estate in the suburban towns of Boston, as well as within the 
limits of the old city. By these and other methods, which his active 
insight and close observation of the progress of business around him, 
enabled him to use to his just advantage, he has acquired large wealth, 
without ever losing the reputation for honorable dealing and unsullied 
integrity, which he acquired in early life. His sympathies are active, 
and have been, through life, always shown to struggling worth, whether 
in the ambitious student or the humble laborer ; while his judicious 
conservatism has ever kept him from giving any encouragement to the 
communistic tendencies, developed in later times in a portion of the 
laboring masses. His private charities have been bestowed with liber- 
ality, and his aid has been freely given to many feeble religious socie- 
ties. He has been the recipient of frequent ofBcial honors, and the dis- 
charge of duties devolving on him has always justified the confidence 
his friends reposed in him. In his worldly success he has maintained 
the same simplicity of habits that distinguished his early life, harmo- 
niously blending the just man of business with the manners of the 
Christian gentleman. 

. Promptly patriotic when our country called for active sympathy and 
financial aid, he allied himself with the republican party, and still 
remains an active member of the same. It is understood among his 
friends that he intends making a liberal donation to some institution of 
learning in Maine, which will make a fitting close to an honorable 
career. 

SIMON BROWN 
Was descended from English ancestry. His paternal grandparents 
came from England, and settled in Hampton, New Hampshire, where 



278 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

his father was born. His parents, Simon Brown and Sally Brown, set- 
tled in the west part of Parsonsfield, near " the city," where the sub- 
ject of this sketch was born, October 2, A. d. 1802. From the com- 
bination in his parentage of the strength and firmness of the Old and 
New England character, young Brown inherited a vigorous constitution 
of body and an active and ambitious mind ; and while he improved the 
former in the healthy labors of the farm, he assiduously cultivated the 
latter through all the limited means obtainable in the newly planted 
settlement, where the district school was one of its earliest institutions. 
Studious by nature, he acquired a solid education from such books as 
he could procure, and by thoughtful reflection upon all suggested 
subjects. 

His application to general reading and study was a prominent 
feature of the whole life, and although too retiring to parade his learn- 
ing, it was an instructive pleasure to his intimate acquaintances to 
listen to the discussion of any matter upon which he had read and 
reflected. 

He taught school successfully for a number of winters before his 
marriage, working upon the farm during the farming season, or going 
abroad for larger wages than he could realize at home. During those 
years he wrought in laying the foundation of the first cotton-mills at 
Saco, and at garden-farming in the vicinity of Boston ; always com- 
mending himself to his employers by his intelligence and correct habits. 

In 1826, he married Miss Sarah Merrill, daughter of John and Mary 
Merrill, a most worthy wife and mother, who died in 1868. Their 
children were : Harriet, who married Clark Merrill ; Annette M., who 
married Samuel Stanley, now deceased ; Martha, also deceased ; Sarah 
C. ; Etta E., the wife of Rev. I. P. Quimby, and John M. Brown, a 
practicing lawyer of Boston, Massachusetts. 

They lived, some years after marriage, on the farm now occupied by 
Captain Joseph Merrill, then purchased and removed to the " Joseph 
Blazo Farm," on the " North Road," one of the most attractive and 
productive of that favored region, only a half-mile distant from " the 
seminary," where their children were educated. He lived here as a 
successful farmer and dairyman (also engaging in quite extensive lum- 
bering operations in Albany, New Hampshire), until about 1856, when 




•;•/"« 



s^ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 279 

his wife acquired her father's homestead, in the distribution of the 
large estate he left, and they removed to that place. 

Mr. Brown's whole life was an example of quiet industry, patient 
thought and constant efforts for his family's welfare. He was by 
nature and habit much interested in sustaining tlie common-school 
system, and in promoting the means of obtaining an advanced educa- 
tion, such as " Parsonsfield Seminary" afforded to his own children, 
and to great numbers of other favored pupils. 

His religious opinions were best exemplified by a life of just dealing 
with others, by devotion to the best interests of his family, by regarding 
the rights of all, while never willingly yielding to what he believed 
unjust, and by that strict yet cheerful sobriety, which marks the best 
character of the husband, father and neighbor. He was liberal in aid 
of religious worship, and in 1853 contributed largel}^ to the new Free 
Baptist Church, at North Parsonsfield, and was selected by his co- 
contributors to erect the same. Thus he spent a life of active labor, 
until near his death in 1884, at the age of eighty-two years, leaving 
behind him respect for his memory among his friends and acquaintances, 
and the sincerest love of his surviving children. 

SAMUEL LOUGEB 

Was the first settler at East Parsonsfield, coming there from Gilman- 
tou, New Hampshire, and selecting a home as early as 1778, but not 
moving to town with his family until 1780. On this place his son 
Taylor, born January 3, 1784, lived after him, married a Watson, and 
had two sons, Samuel and Thomas. Samuel resides near the old home 
yet. His wife dying, he next married a Tibbetts and had by her 
two sons, Greenlief and Sylvester, the latter now residing in Effing- 
ham, New Hampshire, where he has reared quite a family of children, 
among them a lawyer and two physicians. Doctor George E. Lougee, 
of Freedom, New Hampshire, being one. This wife dying, he mar- 
ried a third time, a Miss Hayes, and two sons were theirs, Hayes 
and Cyrus. Mr. Taylor Lougee moved to Effingham Falls, New Hamp- 
shire, in 1840, and there died. 



2 80 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

GILMAISr LOUGEB, 

An older brother of Samuel came to Parsonsfielcl about the same time. 
It is said they arrived in June, 1778, and first builded a log-house at 
the foot of " Mudgett's Hill," so-called. He was deacon of the first 
church formed in Parsonsfield. After making a clearing he went back 
to Gilmanton and brought a bundle of apple-trees on horseback to this 
town. Several of them are now standing, and one, which bears annu- 
ally, measures nine feet around its trunk. This farm has been kept 
in the family ever since. Mr. Lougee was killed while working in a clay 
pit, by the falling of a rock, on September 29, 1788. 

With these two brothers came a third, John Lougee, who lived and 
died here. 

GILMAN LOUGEE, 

Whose portrait here is seen, is the grandson of Gilman before men- 
tioned, and son of Gilman Lougee, 2d, who married Mary, daughter of 
John Buzzell, August 19, 1810. He was born January 8, 1817. His 
father died when he was but fifteen years of age, leaving a widow and 
eight children, — Gilman the oldest son. Possessed of very little prop- 
erty, the burden came heavily upon him, but with that energy and 
enterprise, which has ever characterized the man, he pushed his way 
onward and upward, met and overcame all obstacles, furnished a home 
for his mother and the family, and married Miss Almira B. Richardson. 
Their children were Juliett, Mary Ann, Amelia, Delphina, Hugh Bartis, 
Louisa and David G. Mr. Lougee was the first to bring from Canada 
horses to supply the home market. Li this business he engaged in 
1847, and has followed it occasionally until the present time. For the 
most of his life he has been engaged in agriculture, in buying and sell- 
ing horses, cattle and sheep, and has made life a success. In politics a 
republican and in religious preferences a Free Baptist. He has held 
various town offices, and is esteemed as a man of integrity and moral 
worth, a good citizen and a valued neighbor and friend. 
His sons, Hugh Bartis and David G., both reside in town. 










-^^i^-^-^^^^x^^^i^ -^ c>^~^-^^-^-— 





JOHN M. BROWN tSQ. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 28 1 

JOHN M, BROWN, 

The son of Simon and Sarah Brown, was born at the " North Road " 
village, April 15, A. d. 1839. His boyhood and youth were spent upon 
his father's farm, and in attendance upon the school, at " Parsonsfield 
Seminary," where he prepared to enter college in an advanced class. 
During his school days he developed the habits of industry and close 
attention to all his undertakings, which have marked his later life and 
which he carried into the schoolroom, when he became the successful 
teacher of youth in his native district and in adjoining towns of Maine 
and New Hampshire. 

In 1861, he commenced the study of law in the office of Messrs. 
Ayer and Wedgwood, of Cornish ; subsequently attended, for a term 
of two years, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the 
close of which he was admitted to the bar of York County. He began 
the practice of his profession as partner of Emery S. Ridlon, then of 
Kezar Falls, Parsonsfield, with whom he continued a year. He soon 
after opened a law-office in Boston, and resided in Stoughton. 

His character as a citizen and lawyer is thus outlined by an old 
friend, Edwin W. Wedgwood : — 

" Soon after his removal from Maine, Mr. Brown was appointed by 
Governor Rice, a Trial Justice for Norfolk County. In that capacity, 
he had jurisdiction of a large portion of the civil and criminal cases 
originating in the town of Stoughton and its vicinity. His careful 
weighing of testimony, patient investigation of all the points which 
each case presented, and fixed purpose to render justice to all parties, 
made his opinions respected, and but few appeals were ever entered in 
his court. 

" While residing at Stoughton, he married Miss Fannie Sackett, the 
only child of Almeran and Sophia L. Sackett, of Westfield, Massa- 
chusetts. 

"After four years, he resigned his office of magistrate, purchased a 
valuable farm in the charming town of Milton, to which he removed, 
and where he now lives, continuing his law practice in Boston and the 
adjacent counties of Middlesex and Norfolk, where he has been a suc- 
cessful practitioner, both in the state and federal courts. He has given 
much attention to marine law, and is good authority upon questions 



282 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

arising under it, while his faithful study of jurisprudence, as a science, 
and familiarity with the rules of the various courts, have secured him 
a fine reputation as a lawyer of general practice. 

"As a republican in politics, he is candid in support of his opinions, 
just in his judgment of others, and devoted more to the general wel- 
fare than to any mere partisan success. He has never lost sympathy 
with and for ' the people,' and holds strenuously to the New England 
doctrine of individual independence of thought and action, subject 
only to the laws of God and the restraints which well-regulated society 
imposes. 

"But it is not in the ardent contests witnessed in the courts, nor in 
the successes won in the strife of a great city, that we see him at his 
best. To witness the simplicity of his early life, expanded and trained 
to a manly love of rural enjoyment, we must go with him to his 
delightful suburban home, where from the flower-embowered cottage 
we go out amid green fields and fruit-laden orchards, see the well- 
cared-for domestic fowls and animals, and the luxuriant vegetation 
ripe for the harvest; and feel a part of the inspiration which surround- 
ing scenes impart, and from which he draws his constant supply of 
life-giving energy." 

DOMINICUS RICKER, 

Youngest son of Deacon Dominicus and Susanna (Perkins) Ricker, 
was born in Parsonsfield, May 14, 1823. Here he remained for many 
years, marrying in 1848, Miss Caroline E. Thompson, daughter of 
George Thompson of this town. In 1864, he sold the farm on Kicker's 
Mountain, and moved with his family to Biddeford, where he remained 
about ten years, when he again purchased a farm in his native town 
where he now resides. Although he has always been engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits, yet he has been prominently identified with the inter- 
ests of the towns in which he has resided during a large portion of the 
time since he attained his majority. As a school teacher he has ever 
taken high rank — having tanght fift t/-f our terms of school. The admir- 
able tribute paid him by Horace Piper, Esquire, in his paper on the 
schools of Parsonsfield, page 44, renders any further comment on this 
subject unnecessary. 




.'■iirtWw 







i,r« •»«^'' 



- ^'c^- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 283 

Notwithstanding his absence from town for so many years of his 
active life, yet he has served as superintending school committee of 
Parsonsfield twelve years, as selectman four years, as treasurer one 
year and as representative from Parsonsfield and Cornish, in 1887. 
During his residence in Biddeford, he was President of the Board of 
Aldermen in 1867 and 1868, one of the assessors in '69, '70, '71 and '72, 
and chairman of the board for two years. He also was a representa- 
tive from the city of Biddeford to the Legislature in 1873. 

These facts show far more than words from the pen of any friend of 
the true merit of tlie man, and one thus esteemed, honored and trusted 
needs no further commendation. In religious views and professions, 
he is a Baptist, and in politics a democrat, yet no creed, dogma, doc- 
trine, faith or policy circumscribes or controls his friendships, or causes 
him to accord to others less than he claims for himself, — an honesty of 
purpose and a broad freedom of expression and action. 

EEVEREND EDMUND GARLAND. 
BY REV. JOSEPH RICKER, D. D. 

Since the meagre notice of this college graduate of the town (see 
page 60) was put in print, further and more circumstantial facts have 
come to hand which, in justice to their subject, are here summarized. 

Edmund Garland was born in Parsonsfield, February 15, 1799, and 
died in Granville, Ohio, April 3, 1886, at the ripe age of eighty-seven. 
He graduated at Dartmouth in 1828, at Andover in 1831, and went 
thence to Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life. His sermons 
are represented as having been " models in nicety of construction, clear- 
ness in deduction and ease of application." His chosen field of labor 
embraced, more especially, "destitute churches and neighborhoods." 
Colleges and seminaries of learning, moreover, found in him a true and 
constant friend. Toward laying tlie foundation of these he was espe- 
cially helpful, wise in his plans, indefatigable in his labors and scrupu- 
lously honest in his aims.^ He served his generation well, and in the 
ripeness of wisdom and of years slept with his fathers. 



284 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

ELISHA WADLEIGH 

"Was born in a garrison house in Kittery, Maine, on the fifteenth day 
of February, 1769, and died in Parsonsfield on the third of July, 1872, 
aged one hundred and three and one-half years. 

His parents were too poor to bestow on the son anything outside of 
existence, and therefore, in those early and troublous times, with father 
in the war of the Revolution and the struggrle great for sufficient sub- 
sistence to keep body and soul companions, his education and advan- 
tages were none, attending school but one day in his life. After 
attaining his majority, he married Miss Sally Smith of Berwick, and 
removed to the town of Parsonsfield as early as 1798 or '99, and took 
up a farm subject to all the inconveniences and hardships of those early 
days. Inured to hard work and harder fare, with a physical endowment 
the envy of ordinary men, jovial and happy, determined and resolute 
withal, he met the j)rivations and endured the hardships with a manly 
zeal and spirit, and with his good wife gallantly bore the full share of 
all the toils and burdens of pioneer life. His political affiliations were 
from the earliest with the democratic party, voting that ticket for over 
seventy-five years. 

He retained his mental faculties to a wonderful degree. In the last 
year of his advanced life his memory of early events was keen and 
accurate. Always easy in conversation, he retained that faculty till 
the last. Despite the circumstances attendant upon his early life, his 
attainments were fair, reading considerable and retaining what he read. 
Of his family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, all are 
gone save one, the youngest, Mrs. Catherine Wedgwood, of Newport, 
Maine. 

PEAY. 

Samuel Pray, who lived on Beach Ridge, in Berwick, was of the 
second generation in this country. Joseph, son of Samuel and Dolly 
Pray, was born in Berwick in 1739. Married ^ethsheba Brackett and 
settled in Lebanon. To them were born five children, three sons and 
two daughters, who lived to manhood and womanhood. The eldest 
daughter married Tobias Fernald, of Berwick. The second daughter 
married Jabez Ricker, of Waterboro. One son, Nathan, married Alice 



■^'^i'Sis^ J«S5it5i»>»,, 



'>^. 










Elisha Wadleigh 



i 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 285 

Horr, of Lebanon. The second son Samuel, died in 1806, aged twenty- 
two years. 

Tobias, the oldest son, born March 23, 1775, married Sally Gowen, 
of Lebanon, and settled in Parsonslield in 1800. To them were born 
three children, two sons and one daughter. Isaac, born November 5, 
1800, Rebecca, born May 20, 1802, and John, born January 24, 1804. 
The sickness of relatives in Lebanon called Mr. and Mrs. Pray to that 
place. They rode on horseback and she contracted a severe cold, — 
fever followed and she died November 19, 1806, aged twenty-eight 
years. 

Mr. Pray married a second time Miss Mary Young, of Wolfboro, 
daughter of John and Sally Young, in January, 1809, and they had 
four children two sons and two daughters. Mr. Pray died April 20, 
1835, and Mrs. Pray, April 17, 1859. 

Isaac Pray married Zipporah Dearborn, daughter of Jeremiah and 
Ruth Dearborn, December 15, 1828. They had one son, John Cole- 
man. She died March 15, 1830. He married for his second wife, 
Sarah Goldsmith, of Ossipee, and they are both now living, he eighty- 
seven years, she eighty-four years of age. 

John Pray married Elizabeth Dearborn, daughter of Jeremiah and 
Ruth Dearborn, November 28, 1833. They had two children. She 
died April 20, 1844, and he married June, 1846, Mrs. Hannah (Gold- 
smith) Nute, of Ossipee, and they have one daughter Hannah E., who 
is referred to by Mr. Piper, page 46. Mr. and Mrs. Pray are both 
living— he at the" age of eighty-three years. These two brothers mar- 
ried sisters for their wives at both marriages. They are men of strong 
character, with minds well balanced, upright and straightforward, 
industrious and frugal, hospitable, conscientious and kind. John sold 
to his brother Joseph the home place in 1839, and moved to East Par- 
sonslield, purchasing the Taylor Lougee place, where he yet resides. 
Their sister Rebecca married James Brown, of Ossipee, in 1833. 
The sons of Tobias, Joseph and Samuel, by his second wife deserve 
more than a passing notice. 

JOSEPH PRAY 

Was born December 10, 1810, in Parsonsfield, and died in Woodstock 
in March, 1868. 



286 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

He was educated in the common schools and North Parsonsfield 
Seminary. In early life he commenced teaching, which he followed 
during the winters until 1835, and ever after was much interested in 
educational matters during his active business life in Parsonsfield. He 
was a member of the superintending school committee for many years. 

In 1835, he went to Kennebunk and was employed on the ledge, 
taking the job of building a pier, and on October 26, 1836, by a prema- 
ture blast, he received an injury to his eyes from which he never recov- 
ered. By this, he was rendered entirely unable to perform labor for 
about two years. Returning to his home he, as soon as he could labor, 
engaged in farming, and in 1839 purchased the home place of his 
brother John. Here he remained until 1851, when he made purchase 
of a place at East Parsonsfield of James W. Weeks, and there con- 
tinued in agriculture until 1854, when he entered into trade in com- 
pany with Nathaniel Pendexter, in dry goods and groceries and the 
manufacture of ready-made clothing. This partnership ceased in 1857, 
and in June, 1858, he removed to Woodstock and continued in the 
same kind of business until his death. He was a man of much energy 
and enterprise, but his great misfortune was a serious hindrance to his 
success. He was never married. 

SAMUEL PRAY 

Was the youngest brother, born March 3, 1819, and was quite schol 
arly, improving every opportunity for the acquirement of an educa- 
tion. He early became a teacher of common schoT)ls in his native 
town, then went to Calais, Maine, where he continued in the business 
of teaching until 1845, when he went to Iowa, where he remained until 
his death in 1851. 

Their sister Sarah was never married. Nancy married Albert Rand, 
of Parsonsfield, and is now a resident of Dover, New Hampshire. 

DEACON ELISHA WADLEIGH. 

Elisha Wadleigh, junior, son of Elisha and Sally (Smith) Wadleigh, 
was born in Parsonsfield, September 15, 1801, and resided on the farm 
where he was born until he was "gathered to his fathers" at the ripe 
age of seventy-four years. 






■%;..'* 




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"^^^i^ /W^^, 



X 




HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 287 

In early life he became a member of the Freewill Baptist church, 
and about 1840 was installed deacon, which office and position he 
filled until his death. 

He married Miss Mary, daughter of Caleb Burbank, of Parsonsfield, 
who survived him but a few years. Three sons and a daughter were 
the fruit of this union. He was hospitable in the extreme, his home 
and heart ever open, cordial and pleasant, always recognizing the 
source from which flowed all his blessings ; love, reverence and thank- 
fulness not only making their impress upon the man and beaming from 
his countenance, but in turn making their impress upon those with 
whom he associated. He was a man of sound judgment and discretion, 
one of the best of townsmen, citizens and neighbors; a husband ever 
faithful; a father indulgent, exemplary, kind and generous; a son 
whose duty to his aged parents was always performed as a service of 
love, and a noble Christian, to whom the precepts of His Holy Word, 
governing and controlling his life, were not a grievous burden but a 
joyous service. 

BEACKETT. 

The first settler of this name was John Brackett, son of James 
Brackett, of Berwick. He came to Parsonsfield in the year 1800, mar- 
ried Betsey Fogg and they had two children, Anna, who married Silas 
Cartland, born April 13, 1801, and John, born June 4, 1803. Mr. 
Brackett died April, 1803, aged about twenty-nine years, and soon 
after a brother of his, James Brackett, junior, came and after a time 
married the widow of John, and reared a family of three children, 
•^ames, Susan and Elizabeth. The two latter were the wives of Doctor 
Samuel M. Bradbury, of Limington, — Elizabeth now living. James 
married Miss Betsey Barker, of Limerick and reared a family of five 
children, two sons and three daughters, now all gone save the youngest, 
Miss Ann C. Brackett, of Lawrence, Massachusetts. James was a 
man of sound judgment, an industrious citizen, who served the town 
as one of its municipal officers faithfully, a kind and indulgent husband 
and father, a worthy townsman, neighbor and friend. He died in 
1848, at the age of forty-three, surviving his father but three years. 



288 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

HONORABLE JOHN BRACKETT, 2d, 

Whose portrait here appears, as before mentioned the son of John and 
Betsey (Fogg) Brackett, was an active, energetic business man, of 
more than ordinary mental endowments. His early life was passed on 
the home farm, making the most of the limited privileges for improve- 
ment which the location afforded. In early manhood, he learned the 
trade of house carpenter, which business he followed in part for many 
years. He was for a few years, prior to his marriage, a resident of 
Dover, New Hampshire, but on March 23, 1827, he married Miss Jemima 
B. Lord, daughter of Reverend Wentworth^Lord, of Parsonsfield, and 
made his home in the eastern portion of the town, where he resided 
until his death. Here they reared a family of four children, John W., 
piano manufacturer in Boston, Massachusetts ; Cyrus F., professor of 
physics at Princeton ; Susan E., wife of Alfred Brown, of Wolf boro. New 
Hampshire ; and Emily, who resides on the home place. 

Mr. Brackett was quick and decided, independent and unyielding, 
shrewd, secretive and circumspect, easy and entertaining in conversa- 
tion, yet never satisfying the morbid desires of the inquisitive, lior 
indulging in display or ostentation. He was early a democrat and 
later a republican, yet as both served well his townsmen as their ser- 
vant in important positions for many years, and was county treasurer 
for several years. He was a good financier and one of the best of 
neighbors and friends. In religious views, he and his estimable wife 
were Baptists, being active members of that denomination from their 
early lives. Mr. Brackett died in 1886, aged eighty-three years. His 
wife died seven years previous. 

THE SANBORN FAMILY. ^ 

The progenitor of the family in this country was a certain John San- 
born, who was born in England about 1600, married a daughter of the 
Reverend Stephen Bachilor, had three sons, and died in England, 
leaving his widow and her sons to the care of her father. Mr. Bachilor 
took Episcopal orders, but was ejected for non-conformity, retired to 
Holland, and thence to America, taking his daughter and her three 
sons with him. They came over in the ship " William and Francis," 
Captain Thomas, and landing at Boston June 5, 1632, went directly to 





:W^^^ 





Hon. John brackett. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 289 

Lynn, where another daughter, the wife of Christopher Hussey, was 
then living. 

They remained here five years, the old gentleman, then over seventy 
years of age, acting as pastor of a church he had organized without 
regular installation. Difficulties in the church, in part owing to the 
eccentricities of Mr. Bachilor, made a further sojourn here unpleasant, 
and taking his company with him, then increased by Mr. Hussey's 
family, he removed to Ipswich, from there to Newbury, and in 1638 
settled in Hampton. Here he was regularly installed pastor of the 
first Congregational church, and remaining a few years finally returned 
to England, probably accompanied by his grandson Stephen, dying at 
the ripe age of more than a hundred years. 

In Hampton then, the widow and her two sons, John and William 
Sanborn, lived and died, and for nearly a century few, if any, of their 
descendants had passed the limits of the colony. For the purposes of 
this work it will be sufficient, and lack of space compels us, to give 
only the lineal descent to the original settler in Parsonsfield. 

JOHN SANBORN 

Was born in Newmarket, New Hampshire, March 20, 1763. (His 
father moved to Gilmanton in 1764.) Mr. Sanborn moved to Parsons- 
field in 1787, and took up the farm now owned by his grandson, 
Charles F. January 18, 1789, he married Hannah Batchelder, of 
Hampton and they had eight children, five sons and three daughters. 
He was a man of great strength of character, a strict disciplinarian in 
his family, and had a decisive way of speaking which earned for him 
the soubriquet of " Sir John." His son 

LUTHER SANBORN 

» 

Was born in Parsonsfield, April 30, 1803. He lived there for sixty- 
two years, dying April 27, 1865. Mr. Sanborn was the seventh of the 
nine children of John and Hannah (Batchelder) Sanborn. His 
father came to Parsonsfield just a hundred years ago, and settled, and 
built the house where his grandson, Charles F. Sanborn, now resides. 
It is the same house, somewhat remodeled and improved, in which 
19 



290 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Luther Sanborn was born and lived and died. He lost his mother 
when he was twelve years old, and his father ten years later. 

In 1826, he married Sally Hayes, a daughter of John and Temper- 
ance Hayes, of Limerick. To her, one of the best of wives and mothers, 
he owed much of his happiness and success in life. 

Mr. Sanborn early displayed great business ability and capacity for 
affairs. In connection with Mr. Harvey Page, who still remains with 
us in the enjoyment of a hale and hearty old age, in 1836, he com- 
menced buying cattle for the Brighton market. The business was a 
success from the first, and was continued for many years, in fact, in 
some form as long as he lived. He did a large and lucrative trade also 
in sheep and lambs. 

The Mt. Eagle enterprise, a local matter of considerable importance, 
after many experiments and bad management, was taken in hand by 
Mr. Sanborn and developed into a steady and satisfactory business, 
which, first and last, has brought a good deal of money into the town 
and distributed it where it would do the most good. 

Between 1828 and 1844, seven children were born to him, four 
daughters and three sons, all of whom survive him except the youngest, 
a daughter, who died in infancy. 

Mr. Sanborn occupied several public positions of honor, but of no 
remarkable emolument, during his career. As a military man he was 
commissioned ensign, lieutenant and captain, respectively and succes- 
sively. All these between 1823 and 1828. In 1829, he resigned these 
accumulated honors, and was " honorably discharged " from the ser- 
vice. He was known and addressed ever after as Captain Sanborn. 
Militai-y laurels won in the state militia never fade nor grow stale and 
unprofitable. 

In 1858, and again in 1859, he was elected to the Legislature from 
Parsonsfield and Newfield. In 1863, he was elected to the Senate to 
fill a vacancy caused by the death of Honorable Nehemiah Colby. He 
was re-elected Senator in 1864, and again in 1865. In his 'capacity of 
legislator, he served his town and district faithfully and well. During 
the Civil War, he strongly sustained the government by his voice, his 
vote and his money. 

He died suddenly of heart disease, April 27, 1865, and lies buried in 




i'^' 



c 



^ € r^-^^'^ZZ^ --a>'^;^/^'Z^-^C? 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 29 1 

the family cemetery near the house, beside his wife, who survived him 
twelve years, and his little daughter Mary, who twenty years before 
him had entered the " Silent Land." 

The engraved portrait of Mr. Sanborn, prefixed to this sketch, is by 
Stuart, of Boston, from a photograph made at Augusta while he was 
in the Senate, and is considered a good likeness of the man. 

In some respects Mr. Sanborn was a man above the common. His 
intellect was acute and strong. He had a strong will. His judgments 
of men and things were nearly always sound and sure. Long experi- 
ence and a habit of close observation had trained his faculties to great 
practical perfection ; and no man's counsel and advice, in a wide 
neighborhood, were more frequently sought and followed to advantage 
than Captain Sanborn's. He took great interest in local affairs and 
exercised a good influence therein. 

Universally known to be capable, efficient and trustworthy, many 
trusts were confided to his care, many estates put into his hands for 
settlement, many last wills and testaments came to him for probate 
and execution. He had rare sagacity, a way of minding his own busi- 
ness, and a wise reticence of speech. He had a happy faculty of 
settling differences and difficulties that sometimes arise between friends 
and neighbors. He was a Christian man, and tried to live by the 
Golden Rule. He loved his home, his friends and his native town 
with an unchanging love, and through all his life did what he could to. 
promote their best good and highest interests. He was the soul of 
hospitality, and no waif or wayfarer went hungry or uncared-for from; 
his door. He had many of the best characteristics of his race, a certain 
largeness of mental structure, a nobility of thought and motive, a terse- 
ness of expression, and a just balance of all the faculties appeared in him 
and gave color and tone to the impression his individuality made upon 
all who knew him. 

But enough is said to show in some measure what he was: an affec- 
tionate husband and father, an enterprising and successful man of 
business, a useful citizen, a kind neighbor and an honest man. 

S. H. B.. 



292 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

HONORABLE CHARLES F. SANBORN. 

Charles Franklin Sanborn, a member of the tenth generation of the 
family in this country (Charles F./*^ Luther,^ John,^ the first settler in 
Parsonsfield, John,'^ Benjamin,*^ John,'^ Richard,* John,^ John,^ John,^ 
who was born in England as early as 1600, and died there prior to 
1632), is a resident on the farm selected by the paternal grandfather, 
John, as early as 1787, and occupies the same house, remodeled some- 
what, that was built by said pioneer. It is one of the best and most 
attractive farms in town, and has ever been kept under good cultiva- 
tion, never better than under its present management. The buildings 
are large and commodious, and an air of plenteous prosperity and afflu- 
ence greets the beholder. He is the second son of Luther and Sarah 
(Hayes) Sanborn. In early life, besides the labor incident to farm 
life, he taught several terms of winter school and was employed in 
Massachusetts for one or two years, but yielding to the urgent desire 
of his parents, he returned and made his home here. 

November 30, 1864, he married Miss Esther, youngest child of Samuel 
and Louisa (Downing) Wiggin, and four children have been theirs. 
The second, a little daughter, died in early childhood. The others, a 
son, Luther Edwin, and two daughters, Alta May and Ida Lou, with 
himself and estimable wife constitute the family. He is a man reserved 
yet positive, quick and sensitive yet modest and reticent, a firm and 
steadfast friend, anxiously endeavoring to be governed by the princi- 
ples of justice, propriety and uprightness, seeking more the approval 
of an eidightened conscience than the applause of others. This is 
recognized by all with whom he comes in contact, and he is therefore 
highly appreciated and trusted. He has never sought political prefer- 
/ment, but has, by his friends, been pressed into positions of honor and 
trust. He has served in both branches of the Legislature and has been 
a town officer for several years. He was born September 12, 1835. 

HORACE R. CHENEY, 

Only son of President O. B. Cheney, d. d., of Bates College, was born 
at Parsonsfield, Maine, October 29, 1844. He graduated from Nichols' 
Latin School in 1859, and from Bowdoin College in the class of '63. 





i 







A.r. 



HON. CHARLES F. SANBORN, 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 293 

Bates College began its work in the fall of the same year, and Mr, 
Cheney was the first tutor. In this position he remained three years. 
During thivS time he founded the college library. He was deeply inter- 
ested in this work, and spent much time in soliciting subscriptions and 
obtaining books. 

Having chosen the profession of law, Mr. Cheney studied in the 
office of Senator Boutwell and Judge French of Boston, and graduated 
from Harvard Law School. After but two years' practice in the office 
of A. A. Ranney, Esquire, of Boston, he was appointed Assistant Dis- 
trict Attorney for Suffolk County. At the end of three years, he 
resigned this position, and devoted himself to the general practice of 
law in Boston until his deatli, which occurred in Philadelphiji, Decem- 
ber 13, 1876. 

Mr. Cheney was twice married. His first wife, who died in 1871, 
was Miss Virginia P., daughter of Colonel Joseph K. Wing, of Bloom- 
field, Ohio. In 1874, he married Miss Mary E. Chace, of Valley Falls, 
Rhode Island. She and their only daughter are still living. 

In The Bates Student for April, 1877, we find a sketch of Mr. 
Cheney, written by his friend and associate in the college, Professor 
J. Y. Stanton, from which we take the following : 

"Wlien I entered upon ray duties in the college, Mr. Cheney was not quite 
twent)^ years old. He had been a member of the College Faculty one year as 
Tutor of Latin, and without any special preparation for work in his department, 
he had become a critical teacher of Latin, doubtless one of the most thorough in 
the state. . , . With my knowledge of what he accomplished, I feel authorized to 
say that the college never has had a more devoted or more efficient servant than 
was Mr. Cheney, during his brief connection with it. . . . 

About eleven years elapsed from the time of his leaving the institution to his 
death. One year was spent in regaining his health, which had become seriously 
impaired. Three years he gave to the study of law at Harvard Law School, and 
in the office of Senator Boutwell and Judge French. Seven years he was engaged 
in the practice of law in Boston, two in the office of Mr. Kanney, three as Assist- 
ant District Attorney, and two after he resigned that office. 

His success in his profession was remarkable. While he was Assistant Dis- 
trict Attorney, a prominent Judge of Massachusetts said of him: "Mr. Cheney is 
one of the most promising lawyers in this Commonwealth." In the second year 
of his office, he was granted leave of absence for three months. The Boston 
/owrnaZ, speaking of the term of court before his departure for Europe, said: 
"During the present term, within the six working days, Mr. Cheney has disposed 



294 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

of ninety-six cases, which is unparalleled in the record of the court." The year 
closing June 20, 1876, his practice amounted to over eight thousand dollars, not 
including much unfinished business. . . . 

His early development was not in an extraordinary degree due to books or to 
other foreign aids, but to a force within which impelled his mind to activity. 
When I first knew him, scarcely more than a boy in years, his language was sim- 
ple and forcible, and his habitual manner of expressing himself, in conversation 
and in writing, was marked by the ease and perspicuity which are seldom seen, 
except as the result of years of practice. 

He had accumulated a valuable law library worth three thousand eight hun- 
dred dollars, and in his profession he was a very faithful student. He made all 
the prepai'ation for his cases in court that time would allow, and like all faithful 
students, he always felt driven by his work. George E. Smith, Esquire, of Bos- 
ton, who studied with Mr. Cheney, and has succeeded to his business, says of 
him: "He always looked up himself all the details of his cases, and performed all 
his work in a wonderfully careful and thorough manner." . . . 

While Assistant District Attorney, he shared the duties and responsibilities 
with his superior, each assuming the management of the business for a month, 
alternately. It is gratifying to the friends of Mr. Cheney to know that he was 
always above the suspicion of compounding felonies, or being deterred from the 
fullest performance of his duty by any influences of wealth or position. 

Speaking of his integrity and fearlessness in the discharge of duty, the Bos- 
ton Traveler said: 

"Assistant District Attorney Cheney is adding daily to his first-rate reputation. 
In the Hapgood case the prisoner expected that by pleading guilty his wealth 
and social position would enable him to escape with a fine, instead of being sen- 
tenced to imprisonment, as poor adulterers ai'e, but Mr. Cheney was not disposed 
to assent to any such arrangement, and Hapgood was sent to the House of Cor- 
rection for eighteen months." 

And again: 

"The argument of Assistant District Attorney Cheney in the Parker trial yes- 
terday, was, perhaps, the best that this efficient and talented prosecuting oflicer 
has ever made in a similar case. It was a model of conciseness, brevity and 
eloquence, and all who listened to it must have been fully convinced that the 
speaker earnestly believed in the justice of the cause for which he pleaded, and 
was determined to do all in his power to see that the law was impartially admin- 
istered. The shallow sophistries of the attorney for the defendant, and espe- 
cially the absurd pretence that the bar-keeper was the proprietor of the lunch- 
room where the liquors were seized, were clearly exposed and destroyed by the 
telling logic and irrefutable argument of the Attorney, In the brief space of 
twenty minutes, he went through the finely spun web of Mr. Bradley's remark- 
able argument, unraveling its ridiculous pretences and exposing its cunning 




ZLMof^^^-^^^ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 295 

deceit. It was, in short, an argument of unusual ability and power, and Mr. 
Cheney may well be congratulated for having dared to face aristocratic public 
opinion, and in something more than a metaphorical sense, to beard the lion so 
manfully in his den." 

In this connection, I take the liberty of quoting from a private letter from 
Honorable Charles R. Train, Attorney General of Massachusetts. 

"From the time Mr. Cheney became Assistant District Attorney until his 
death, I knew him thoroughly and watched him with increasing interest day by 
day. He had made rapid progress, and had he lived would have very early 
become a leader at the Suffolk bar. He was an enthusiast in his love of the pro- 
fession, a fine legal scholar, and seemed to me to possess all the elements required 
to ensure success as a nisi prius lawyer. He (if one may be allowed the expres- 
sion) was faithful and indefatigable to a fault. I loved him as a younger brother 
for his sterling qualities of mind and heart, and was overwhelmed by the news 
of his death which I had never anticipated." 

In the society of strangers I think Mr. Cheney was reserved, but to his friends 
he was cordial, sincere and confiding. He died so much beloved by them all, 
that no one of them could trust his impartiality in speaking af the virtues of his 
heart. 

ELTSHA SMITH WADLEIGH, 

Son of Elisha, junior, and Mary (Burbank) Wadleigb, occupies the 
old homestead, on which Elisha Wadleigh settled during the last years 
of the past century. He is one of the prominent farmers and success- 
ful business men of the town. He has within a few years remodeled 
and enlarged the farm house and buildings, planted shade trees, grad- 
ing and making attractive and pleasant the grounds. It is here his 
life has been thus far passed, a large part of which has been devoted to 
caring tenderly for the aged grandparents, and later the father and 
mother, reaping the reward of pecuniary blessings in addition to the 
greater, of dut}^ faithfully done, and it is here he intends to pass the 
remainder of his years. During the past thirty years, he has served 
on the board of superintending school committee of the town twelve 
years, and is at present, as several times before, its chairman. 

He was born December 6, 1830, and married Mrs. Josephine Lord, 
July 3, 1879. 



296 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

EDWAED C. CHAMBEELIN, 

Son of Joseph Chamberlin and grandson of Benjamin Dalton, was born 
in New Haven, Connecticut, November 4, 1844. When about one year 
old, his parents removed to Parsousfield. Lived in Parsonsfield until 
February, 1864, having received an education sufficient to enter upon 
mercantile life, when he went to Portland, Maine, and there, after 
some difficulty, obtained a situation as clerk in the retail dry goods 
house of Samuel B. Gowell. Remaining about two years with this 
house, he was sought for by the firm of J. R. Corey & Co., where he 
remained eleven years, becoming very successful as a clerk, making 
many friends and acquaintances throughout the city and surrounding 
towns. This last firm becoming obliged to give up business, Mr. 
Chamberlin, with Mr. C. C. Millett and X. John Little, purchased the 
stock and entered into a co-partnership, September 1, 1876, under the 
firm name of Millett, Chamberlin & Little, remaining together as part- 
ners four years, when Mr. Chamberlin retired from the firm. In Octo- 
ber, 1880, Mr. Chamberlin and Mr. T. F. Homsted formed a co-partner- 
ship and entered into the dry goods business again at 451 Congress 
Street, under "the firm name of Chamberlin & Homsted, where they 
have carried on a very successful business up to the present time. 

After being in Portland one year, he became a Christian and united 
with the Seaman's church, where he found it a delight to do Christian 
work among the seamen for three years. 

In 1870, Mr. Chamberlin was married to Miss Mary E. Twitchell, 
of Bethel, Maine, and after two years they both united with the 
Plymouth church (Congregational), when soon after, Mr. Chamberlin 
was chosen and elected deacon and remained in that office a number 
of years until the church was dissolved. Mr. Chamberlin was also 
superintendent of the Plymouth Sunday-school for two years, and for 
the same term of years was superintendent of the Sunday-school at 
Allen's Corner, Deering, Maine. He was also an active member of the 
Portland Young Men's Christian Association for many years. After 
the dissolution of the Plymouth church, Mr. Chamberlin and wife 
united with the Williston church, where he is now an active member. 




•^"'"♦^ 



^(^^i/rzyrc:^ 4jj. A^^TU^^'iy^^^^^^^ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 297 

GEORGE W. BENSON, 

The eldest child of James M. and Anna (Clark) Benson, was born in 
South Parsonsfield, Maine, January 17, 1816, and died suddenly of 
heart disease in Lawrence, Massachusetts, April 12, 1859. 

For a few months of his youth, he was in Bangor as clerk in a lum- 
ber office, and he taught at one time in Dixmont ; but his first school 
was taught when fifteen years of age. 

He began his preparation for college in Hopkinton, N. H., but spent 
his last year at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, New Hampshire, 
under the late Doctor Cyrus Richards. He entered Dartmouth Col- 
lege in 1837, and graduated in 1841. He ranked well as a student, 
being in the first third of a class of more than seventy members, not- 
withstanding he was broken in health during the last two years of his 
college life. 

He was a very fine penman, and by teaching writing schools in con- 
nection with day schools three months in the winters, he was able him- 
self to meet the greater part of his college expenses, and so greatly 
lessened the burden which would otherwise have fallen upon the family 
at home. It was no doubt the exposure to the inclemencies of the 
weather on Cape Cod, where he taught school two winters, which 
broke down his health and planted the seeds of disease which carried 
him to an early grave. After his graduation he taught, very success- 
fully, the Academy in Hopkinton, N. H., in the meantime studying 
law with Honorable Matthew Harvey, of Hopkinton, and Honorable 
Samuel Fletcher, of Concord, and also six months in the Cambridge 
Law School. He was admitted to the bar in Concord, New Hampshire, 
in the autumn of 1844, and was married the same year to Maria, eldest 
daughter of Honorable William Tenney, of Hanover, New Hampshire. 
In April, 1845, he had an opportunity to engage in teaching in Cox- 
sackie, Green County, New York, and with his wife taught there three 
years. 

In the spring of 1848, he removed to the then new town of Lawrence, 
Massachusetts, where he at once engaged in the practice of his chosen 
profession. He was elected town clerk in 1850, which office he held 
three years ; and when the town became a city, in 1853, he was con- 
tinued in the same office one year or more. Afterward he held the 



298 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

office of city solicitor for one and a half vears. He was also appointed 
one of the Associate Justices of the Police Court by the late Governor 
George N. Briggs. 

In 1858, he was elected a representative to the General Court of the 
state. That year the statutes were to be revised. He was one of a 
committee of forty who were appointed to sit during the summer of 
1859 to make the revision. The Legislature adjourned April 6, 1859. 
The following Saturday he went to Boston to attend the first meeting 
of that committee, and was then appointed one of a sub-committee of 
seven to adopt rules for their guidance in the important work before 
them. This sub-committee was to meet the next Wednesday in the 
State House, but before that day dawned he had passed away from 
earth. He also served upon the committee on Bills in the Third Read- 
ing, and in that position his critical judgment and painstaking assiduity 
were of signal advantage to the state. His criticisms upon a bill, upon 
one occasion, were so remarkably acute and pertinent as to elicit a 
public complimentary recognition upon the floor of the House from 
Honorable Caleb Cushing, who was the most experienced member. 

In his law practice he was most successful, having a large and respon- 
sible business. He was known as the poor man's friend, and he often 
not only gave gratuitous advice but money to pay his clients' fare back 
home, or to help them in other ways. 

He paid great attention to religion ; in all questions concerning the 
material and moral prosperity of the community he was much inter- 
ested ; and in his profession it was universally conceded that he was a 
man of the strictest integrity. He was one of the deacons of the Law- 
rence Central Congregational church, in which he felt the deepest 
solicitude from the period of its organization. 

His leading characteristic was a large-hearted, far-reaching benevo- 
lence, which controlled every thought and act of his life. He enjoyed, 
in a very high degree, the esteem and confidence of the people of Law- 
rence, and when early called away he seemed only to have entered 
upon a career of honors and successes, influence and usefulness, open- 
ing wide before him. 



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^^?ffe^^fe^^^/2^ 



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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 299 

STEPHEN A. STACKPOLE. 

Stephen Abbott Stackpole was born in Parsonsfield, Maine, October 
26, 1818, being the third sou of Edmund and Sabra Abbott Stackpole. 
He received his early education in the district schools and was gradu- 
ated from North Parsonsfield academy in the year 1837, after which he 
taught in the public schools of the towns of Ossipee and Freedom, 
New Hampshire, Parsonsfield and Calais, Maine, respectively. Pre- 
ferring a mercantile to a sedentary life, Mr. Stackpole, in 1844, went to 
Boston, Massachusetts, and soon entered the employ of John D. Rich- 
ardson as a clerk in his grocery, baking and provision business, carried 
on in South Boston. In the interest of Mr. Richardson, he worked 
zealously and assiduously, early and late, and was rewarded in 1852 by 
being admitted as an equal partner in the business under the style of 
J. D. Richardson & Co. Subsequently, upon the decease of the senior 
partner in 1856, he became sole proprietor by purchase, not only of the 
business but of the estate. 

Mr. Stackpole continued the business until the year 1858, when he 
disposed of all but the baking business. This he has since conducted, 
giving personal attention to it until 1886, when his son was admitted 
as partner under the firm name of S. A. Stackpole & Son. Under his 
own name, Mr. Stackpole also carried on business as a wholesale flour 
merchant, at 224 State Street, Boston, his long and practical experience 
with the staples being of great advantage to him in handling it. As a 
citizen of Boston, he has taken more than an ordinary interest in its 
affairs, and. his labors have several times been recognized by the suf- 
frages of his constituents. Within two years after his locating in 
South Boston, he was elected to the school board of Boston and con- 
tinued by successive elections an active member thereof for a period of 
ten years, retiring in 1856. In 1850, he was drawn and served as a 
juror on the celebrated Webster-Parkman murder trial. 

He was an assistant assessor of the city of Boston for two years, viz. : 
1869 and 1870. In 1872, he was elected to the board of aldermen and 
was overseer of the poor during 1873, '74 and '75. 

Mr. Stackpole also represented the fi.fteenth district of the County 
of Suffolk in the Massachusetts Legislature, during the year 1878. 



300 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Since 1872, he has served continuously as a member of the board of 
directors of the South Boston Gas Light Company. 

He was married in 1852 to Susan Ann Brao-don, dauo-hter of Mr. 
William Bragdon, of Limington, Maine, by whom he was blessed with 
two children, a daughter and a son. 

As early as 1854, he became interested in the Masonic Fraternity, 
which was evinced by his becoming a member of Saint Paul's Lodge, 
at South Boston. Later, in 1866, he became a charter member of 
Adelphi Lodge, and in 1878 was elected its treasurer, which office he 
has filled in response to unanimous elections. In 1889, he received the 
chapter degrees in Saint Matthews Royal Arch Chapter, and the fol- 
lowing year the orders of Christian Knighthood, in Saint Omer Corn- 
man dery. 

ALVAH S. LIBBEY 

Was born December 5, 1830, on his grandfather Bachelder's honlestead, 
now owned by Charles Hobbs. When he was four years old, his father 
moved into Effingham, New Hampshire, where he received his educa- 
tion at the town school and the Effingham Academy. At the age of 
fourteen, he went to Haverhill, Massachusetts, to work on a farm. After 
one year he went to Boston as clerk on a lumber wharf, where he 
remained three years. Since that time he has been engaged in mill 
and lumber business, except when he was absent during his service in 
the army. Mr. Libbey enlisted in the Sixteenth Regiment New Hamp- 
shire Volunteers and was engaged in the campaign for the reduction of 
Port Hudson, La., under General N. P. Banks. He was promoted 
to Lieutenant after four months' service. In 1864, he was commis- 
sioned Captain of Company G, First New Hampshire Heavy Artillery, 
one hundred and forty-seven men and four lieutenants, commanded at 
Fort Scott, Fort Sumner and Battery Gareschee in 1864, and 1865 in 
defences of Washington, District of Columbia. Since 1865, he has been 
in the firm of Libbey, Varney & Co., Wolfborough, New Hampshire, 
manufacturers of lumber and box shook. He was a member of New 
Hampshire Legislature in 1871 and '72, and has held various town 
offices. 

Married Miss Abbie E. Pray and has three children. Sarah Ellen 




Cv/^Z.,/1^^'/^ /y/ ^ 




Capt. ALVAH S. LIB3EY. 




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SAMUEL M. BRADBURY 

M. O. 



i^-ty^ 




HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 3OI 

Rand married to Charles E. Randall ; Edward Judson married to Bessie 
Drew, and Fred S. (graduate of New Hampton Seminar}'-), who entered 
Bates College in September, 1887. Captain Libbey is one of the ster- 
ling men of Wolfborough, generous to a fault, ever ready to assist those 
in need, a true friend and a worthy citizen. 

DOCTOR SAMUEL M. BRADBURY 

Was the second son of Doctor James Bradbury, born August 22, 1805. 
He commenced the study of his profession under the instruction of his 
father, and continued it at the medical school connected with Bowdoin 
College, at Brunswick, and received his degree of M. d. on Commence- 
ment Day in 1831. He then entered upon the practice of his profession 
at Parsonsfield. In 1836, he moved to Limington, and from that time 
until the present (1887), he has continued in the active practice of his 
profession, making, both places, a period of fifty-six years. He is now 
active and in fair health. 

In 1831, he married Susan Brackett, a daughter of James Brackett, 
of Parsonsfield. She and a son and daughter who survived her have 
all deceased. In December, 1847, he married Elizabeth Brackett, sister 
of his first wife, estimable women both. She and two sons and a 
daughter are now living, the oldest son, James Otis, is a prominent 
lawyer in Piscataquis County. 

GARLAND. 

John Garland lived in Hampton, New Hampshire, and was contem- 
porary with George Garland, who appeared in Maine about 1659. John 
was born about 1620, and married Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Chase, 
and daughter of Thomas Philbrick, on October 26, 1654. He died Jan- 
uary 4, 1672. 

SAMUEL GARLAND, 

Who settled in Parsonsfield in 1795, was of the sixth generation (Sam- 
uel,6 Jonathan,^ Samuel,* Jonathan,^ Peter,^ John^). Married Molly 
Bachelder, and they had ten children. He died March 5, 1855, aged 
eighty-three years. His wife died November 18, 1833. He was long a 
deacon of the Congregational church, a strong-minded, resolute man, 



302 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

fixed in his views, strictly moral and upright, commanding the respect 
and esteem of his townsmen, neighbors, friends and all with whom he 
associated. 

DAVID GARLAND, 

Eldest son of Deacon Samuel and Mary (Bachelder) Garland, was 
born in Hampton, New Hampshire, August 23, 1794. In the following 
autumn, Deacon Garland purchased a tract of land in the town of Par- 
sonsfield, to which he moved in the spring of 1795, making the journey 
on horseback. He had two horses, on one of which he placed his wife 
with David (the subject of this sketch) in her arms, while he, with such 
articles as could be packed, rode the other horse, accomplishing the 
journey of a little more than sixty miles, in one day. Here David 
spent bis early life, with only such advantages for an education as 
could be obtained from the common school, till he arrived at the age 
of twenty years, when he attended one term at Wakefield Academy. 
He then taught school in Parsonsfield for two or three winters. Soon 
after, he went to Winslow in Kennebec County, and in 1819, purchased 
the farm on which he lived and died. 

In March, 1821, he married Catherine M. Parsons, daughter of 
Colonel Joseph Parsons, who died February 5, 1831, leaving four chil- 
dren, three of whom are now living. She was an estimable woman, a 
devoted and affectionate wife and a true Christian. December 12, 
1881, he married Miranda Parsons, a sister of his former wife, a woman 
of marked ability, whose home was a sunlight of joy and happiness, not 
only to her husband and children, but to all her friends and acquaint- 
ances. She died May 8, 1884, the beloved mother of five children, 
three of whom survive her. 

Mr. Garland retained his faculties to a remarkable degree up to the 
time of his death, which occurred March 22, 1885, in the ninety-first 
year of his age. 

Mr. Garland was often called upon to occupy places of trust in the 
town, county and state. He was town clerk and selectman for twenty- 
five consecutive years. He served as commissioner of Kennebec 
County nine years. He was quite often a member of the Legislature 
of the state from 1834 to 1860. Pie was a member of the House of 
Representatives, and voted for the original Maine law. 





~*T?g?FT''-" '« 




ei^ynry 



<a^ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 303 

In addition to his carrying on his farm, he was a surveyor of land. 
One of the ablest and most successful lawyers of the state writes, in a 
private correspondence : 

"I knew him when I was a pupil in the common school in Parsons- 
field, taught by him, and ever since I came to Kennebec in 1830, up to 
the time of his death, I knew him well. We frequently met in the 
courts. He was often appointed by the court, or agreed upon by the 
parties as surveyor, in cases where the title or boundaries of land were 
involved. So great was the confidence in his integrity and character 
that he was more frequently employed in this responsible trust than 
any other surveyor in the county, during my long practice at the bar. 
He was a good and affectionate man in all his domestic relations, as 
son, brother, husband, father ; a faithful and able public servant ; a 
good citizen and a good Christian." 

The distinguishing traits of Mr. Garland's character were his in- 
domitable energy, his unyielding support of the right, his constancy of 
purpose to accomplish successfully all matters intrusted to his hands. 
His quick perception, sound judgment, strict integrity and fair dealing 
secured to him great success, and the entire confidence of the com- 
munity in which he lived. 

JOHN GARLAND 

Was the seventh child and the fifth son of Deacon Samuel, born in 
Parsonsfield, January 10, 1805, and died in Newfield, July 23, 1883. 
He remained on the home place with his father, married Mary E., 
daughter of Isaac Marston, and they had four children, three sons and 
one daughter. He was a teacher of schools in early life, and later 
served for several years as member of the board of superintending 
school committee, always manifesting a deep interest in educational 
matters. After the death of his father, he sold the home place and 
removed to Saco. A few years later, he left there and went to New- 
field to be near and care for Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Marston, the parents 
of his wife. Mrs. Garland died in 1879. Mr. Garland devoted the 
most of his life to agricultural pursuits, was a man of strong convic- 
tions, rigid in his discipline, unyielding in his views, a bitter opponent 
of whatever he regarded as error, and outspoken and circumspect in 



304 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

his conduct. He was early a whig and later a republican, and in 
religious views and professions rigidly and consistently orthodox. 

He was among the first to advocate and promote temperance reforms, 
and ever ready to cast his vote and his influence on the side of prog- 
ress and justice. He thus early became an opposer of slavery, not 
only as regarded its extension in this country, but as an institution in 
the land and world. 

With him, it was enough if convinced of the existence of error, to 
be its opposer, and of a truth, to be its advocate. He died at the age 
of seventy-eight years, surrounded by man}' friends, and clothed upon 
' with the riches of a well-spent life, an inestimable inheritance, not only 
for his children and immediate friends, but for those in whose hearts 
the memory of the just is blessed. His sons were Samuel, for some 
years in mercantile business in Saco ; Daniel S., commission merchant 
in Boston (whose family retjides in Newfield to care for the aged grand- 
mother, now past ninety years, Mrs. Isaac Marston), and Edmund, 
now a merchant in Saco. His only daughter, Sarah, is the wife of 
Samuel M. Bradbury, of Limerick, Maine. 

TAPPAN WENTWOKTH. 

Tappan Wentworth, son of Evans Wentworth, one of the early set- 
tlers of this town, was born in Somersworth, New Hampshire, near 
Dover, April 16, 1774. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas 
Bradbury, of Buxton, Maine, in July, 1804, and removed to Parsons- 
field, in June, 1806, to the farm now owned and occupied by his oldest 
son Thomas B. Wentworth, where he died June 21, 1850. His wife 
died November 4, 1849. 

Mr. Wentworth was a descendant of Elder William Wentworth, the 
first English settler by that name in America. He came to this conti- 
nent early in the seventeenth century, and settled in Dover, New Hamp 
shire, somewhere about the year 1640. He had nine sons, and Mr. 
Wentworth was descended from the youngest, Benjamin, of the fourth 
generation. 



^ 



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/^/^, "^TyOv^C^r^^l^ 



Hon . G. M . W ENTWORTH 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. ~ 305 

THOMAS B., 

Eldest son of Tappan, yet remains on the home place. He married 
Sarah, the youngest daughter of Eliott Fernald, of Parsonsfield, and 
has a family of three sons and a daughter. Two of his sons, Charles 
and Zenas, reside with him. 

He has been one of the municipal officers of the town and has ever 
served his constituents well and faithfully, a man very reserved and 
retiring, yet well informed, upright and circumspect. 

The next son was 

HONORABLE ZENAS PAINE WENTWORTH. 
(See page 63.) 

HONORABLE GILES MERRILL WENTWORTH 

Was the third and youngest son of Tappan, and was born June 17, 
1811. His early life was spent in Parsonsfield, but at the age of 
twenty-four years he went to Calais, Maine, where he has since resided. 

In the spring of 1846, he engaged in the lumber business with E. C. 
Gates, in which he continued for thirty-six years, or until 1882, obtain- 
ing the reward which industry, honesty, frugality and capability so 
richly merit. 

June 9, 1846, he married Miss Lucy C. Gates, and one daughter was 
theirs, who, after arriving to womanhood, married and removed to 
Providence, R. I., and who within the past year died, leaving the 
father sad and lone. Mrsr— Weiitw^r-th-died— sonje-jeara-siftGe. Mr. 
Wentworth has ever been identified politically with the democratic 
party, yet in the republican city of Calais he was elected mayor in 1870, 
by one hundred majority, and in 1871 by ninety-seven majority. He 
was the first democratic mayor ever elected in Calais, and there has 
been but one since, which was the year 1885. 

He was also elected Senator, in 1875. These facts show conclusively 
the standing of Mr. Wentworth at home, and how he is esteemed where 
he is best known. 

PHILIP PAINE, 

The son of William, of Rye, New Hampshire, and grandson of Philip, 
of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was born about the year 1756. At 
20 



306 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

the outbreak of the Revolution, being then twenty years of age, he 
joined the Continental array, enlisted for three years and served his 
term. He was remarkable for his coolness and bravery, of which vari- 
ous instances have been narrated. He married Katrine St. Clair, a 
Scotch lady, and settled after the war in Parsonsfield, York County, 
Maine. He was much esteemed for his strict integrity, sobriety and 
perseverance. His wife was also a woman of distinguished character- 
istics. Of a strong mind, a clear head, a vigorous frame, she was well 
qualified to endure the hardships of a frontier life. She was a prac- 
ticed and daring equestrian and kept up the habit of riding on horse- 
back till eighty-five years of age, when she was disabled by being thrown 
from her saddle and fracturing her thigh. Her voice was so clear that 
she could make it heard to the extreme limits of the large farm on 
which they resided. He died at the age of eighty-four and his widow 
at the age of ninety years. He left several children, among whom 
were two sons, John Treat and Nicholas Emery. 

The first named was born at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and was 
for many years one of the most prominent members of the Boston, 
Massachusetts, bar. He left but one child, a daughter. 

Nicholas Emery was born January 23, 1808. He attended Phillips 
Exeter, New Hampshire, Academy, was admitted to the bar and subse- 
quently became a member of Governor Fairchild's staff (of Maine), 
with the rank of Colonel. 

He married Abby M. Sprague, June 23, 1834, of South Berwick, 
Maine, and removed to the city of Rochester, Monroe County, New 
York, and engaged in the practice of his profession. He was elected 
District Attorney of that county, and was afterward elected mayor of 
that city, and became the president of the board of education. He 
was appointed postmaster of that city by President Buchanan. 

In the year 1868, he removed to the city of New York, and subse- 
quently to Yorktown, Westchester County, New York, where he died 
March 23, 1887. At the time of his death he was the president of the 
Dakota Railroad Company. He was a man fully six feet in height, 
large in proportion, and had exceedingly handsome features. He bore 
a lifelong reputation for perfect integrity. He left a large property in 
real estate. Three children survive him, viz.: Mrs. Wallace Darrow, 




JOHN G. SMART. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 307 

Doctor Oakman S. Paine and Willis S. Paine, the present banking 
superintendent of the state of New York. His widow still survives him. 



SMART. 

It is alleged upon good authority that Captain John Smart, who 
settled in Hingham, Massachusetts, was the progenitor of all the Smarts 
in America. 

Charles Smart, probably of the fifth generation of Smarts in this 
country, had sons Gardner, Charles, Joseph, Caleb, Fenelon, Watson, 
and daughters Rebecca, Sally, Irene and Sophronia. This family lived 
at Grafton, New Hampshire. Nearly all the family went to Ohio, 
except Gardner, who became early a resident of Parsonsfield. He 
married Sally Mighel, a daughter of Moses Mighel, of Parsonsfield, and 
here settled. 

JOHN G. SMART, 

Third son of Gardner and Sally (Mighel) Smart, was for many years: 
a resident of Parsonsfield. He was a house-carpenter and millwright, 
working at the latter business in company with his father considerably, 
but devoting more of his time to the business of carpenter. He also 
was engaged quite a number of years in milling, in connection with, 
the business of agriculture. 

He was a man who scrupulously kept his own counsel, and though 
friendly to all, was intimately so with but few. He was very indus- 
trious, and managed his business affairs with tact and ability, was a 
most dutiful son and brother, and a most worthy friend, neighbor and 
townsman. 

RUSSELL H. CONWELL, 
(See page 165). 
Was born in the town of Worthington, Hampshire County, Massachu- 
setts, February 15, 1843, and spent his early days upon a small farm, 
situated in the most sterile and mountainous portion of that region. 
Very early in his boyhood he was compelled to earn his own living, and 
unassisted, secured the position which he now holds, as a " self-made 



308 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

man." He kept along with his classes in the district school by study- 
ing evenings, while working at manual labor during school hours; and 
earned by daily labor his meagre supply of food and clothiug while at 
the academy in Wilbraliam, Massachusetts. In 1860, he entered upon 
the law and academic course together at Yale College, the latter under 
a tutor, so as to economize his time and reduce expenses. But the war 
of the Rebellion interrupted his studies in 1862, and took him to the 
field as a captain of infantry. He afterward served in the artillery 
branch of the service, and as a staff officer. At the close of the war 
he went to Minnesota and began the practice of law, he having com- 
pleted his course by private study while in the army. In 1867, he 
represented the state of Minnesota as its emigration agent to Germany, 
and became the foreign correspondent of his own newspaper, In 1868, 
he was engaged as the correspondent of the New York Tribime, and 
as the traveling correspondent of the Boston Traveler. In 1870, he 
was sent to the different countries of Asia by the New York Tribune 
and Boston Traveler, and made the entire circuit of the globe, filling 
at that time many important lecture engagements in England. He 
afterwards visited England exclusively on a lecture tour, through the 
important cities of that countr3\ 

In 1870, he published his first book, " Why and How the Chinese 
Emigrate." It has been followed by many others of a historical and 
biographical character. He was a friend and traveling companion of 
Bayard Taylor, and his biography of that poet and traveler had a very 
extended sale. For ten years he practiced law in Boston, pursuing 
industriously in all leisure hours his literary studies and lecturing 
evenings. He reads and writes several different languages, and has 
an especial fondness for the historical and theological works of Germany 
. and Italy. His popular lectures are lively and humorous, yet earnestly 
instructive, and cover a wide range of experience and study. 

Mr. Conwell, as stated above, is the author of many popular books, 
including, " Why and How the Chinese Emigrate," " Women and the 
Law," " The Great Fire in ;Boston," " The Great Fire in St. John," 
" Biography of Bayard Taylor," "Life of President Hayes," " Life of 
General James A. Garfield," " Lives of the Presidents," " Joshua 
(Gianavello, the Waldensian Hero," and several smaller works. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 309 

He is the pastor of the largest Baptist church in Philadelphia, where 
the crowd is so great that for public safety the congregation can only be 
admitted by ticket at the usual services. He is also President of the 
Temple College, of Philadelphia, instituted to give young workingmen 
a classical or professional education. 

In 1873, Mr. Con well married Miss Sarah F., daughter of the late 
Honorable Luther and Sarah (Hayes) Sanborn, of Parsonsfield, an 
accomj^lished lady, fitted by nature as well as acquirement for the 
duties and responsibilities of the important position she is called to fill. 
They have one little daughter Agnes, aged thirteen years. 

DEARBORK 

The progenitor of all the Dearborns in the United States, was one 
Godfrey Dearborn, who was a native of Exeter, County of Devon, 
England. The date of his birth is unknown, also the date of his 
arrival in this country, but probably about 1638. In 1639, we find 
him a resident of Exeter, New Hampshire. Although he was a man of 
some importance among the early settlers, being early elected one of 
the " townsmen " or " selectmen " of Exeter, his signature wherever 
found, was executed by making his mark. He removed to Hampton 
about 1649, for in 1648 he was selectman of Exeter, and in 1650, 
selectman of Hampton. Here he lived until his death on February 4, 
1686. The farm on which he settled has been in the Dearborn name 
ever since. 

The name of his first wife is not known nor the date of her death, but 
probably about 1661. They had six children, three sons and three 
daughters. The sons were Henrjs in the ancestral line of General 
Henry Dearborn ; Thomas, ancestor of Dearborns resident in Effing- 
ham, New Hampshire, and John, from whom the Parsonsfield Dear- 
borns have descended. 

He married a second wife on November 25, 1662, in the person of 
Mrs. Dorothy Dalton, the widow of Philomau Dalton. His will bears 
the date of December 14, 1680, and is witnessed by Samuel Dalton and 
his wife Mehitable. Samuel was the only son of Philoman and Dorothy 
Dalton, and he from whom the Daltons in this country have descended. 

The first Dearborn in the town of Parsonsfield, was 



3IO HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

JEREMIAH. 

He was born in Hampton, New Hampshire, Januarj'- 8, 1768 (the 
line of descent being Jeremiah,^ John,^ John,* John,^ John,^ Godfrey^). 
He was married to Ruth Bachelder, and moved to Parsonsfield in 
1794, and died here January 25, 1851, aged eighty-three years. 

JOHN DEARBORN, 

Second son of Jeremiah and Ruth (Bachelder) Dearborn, was born in 
Parsonsfield, February 13, 1801. His father had, seven years prior, 
removed from Hampton, New Hampshire, to this town, then young, 
and effected a settlement subject to the deprivations of that early 
period. The eldest son, Jeremiah Jr., entered the army when John 
was twelve years of age, and there received injuries which rendered 
him incapable of toil, and of which he died seven years later. Much 
of the burden of life thus came upon John. His privileges were few, 
his duties many, and to his obligations he was ever faithful. 
' In 1826, he married Miss Sally S., daughter of Elisha and Sally 
(Smith) Wadleigh, which union was blessed with five children, three 
sons and two daughters. The third son died in infancy. The other 
children yet survive. The dear wife and devoted mother, whose loved 
memory is constantly fresh and sweet, passed " over the river " in May, 
1850. He married Mrs. Sophia Hill, of Waterboro, a kind and motherly 
lady, in 1853, and died April, 1877, a resident during all his life on 
the same farm where he was born, now owned by his eldest son, Samuel 
G. His eldest daughter Ruth is the wife of Elliot Fernald, of Saco, 
and the youngest, the wife of Albert Roberts, of Waterboro. 

In early life, he and his wife united with the Freewill Baptists, 
under Reverend John Buzzell, of which church they ever remained 
members. He served his town in no official capacity, but modest and 
retiring, he served humanity as a hospitable, generous, honest, kind- 
hearted Christian, and on this page of local history, this tribute is laid 
to the memory of an intelligent, active, devoted, loving and lovable 
mother, whose life was one of self-abnegation, and to a father of 
.uprightness and honor, w'hose memory is blessed, by their son, 

J. W. D. 




John Dearborn. 




■'^ 



-^L-'?--v7--2xv:;Z-2 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 3II 

HAKDY MEEEILL. 

Hardy Merrill was born in Newbury, Massachusetts, October 18, 
1774. He was the son of Henry and Rebecca (Moulton) Merrill, 
whose ancestors came to Newbury from England, in 1635. 

Hardy came to Parsonsfield in 1793, married Salome Kinsman, of 
Parsonsfield, in 1794. The result of this marriage was nine children. 
Joseph, the oldest, married Hannah Burbank of Parsonsfield, the result 
being four children. Isaac, the second, married Hannah McDonald, 
of Limerick, the result being one son. Salome, the third, married 
David Mudgett, of Parsonsfield, the result being five children. Henry, 
the fourth, married Rebecca Merrill, of Parsonsfield, the result being 
one son. Abby, the fifth, married James Moore, of Parsonsfield, the 
result being nine children. Hannah, the sixth, married Gilman L. 
Bennett, of Parsonsfield, the result being four children. Louisa, the 
seventh, married Silas Moulton, of Parsonsfield, the result being four 
children. Rebecca, the eighth, married Abner Kezar of Parsonsfield, 
the result being one son. Samuel, the ninth, married Elizabeth Knapp, 
of Parsonsfield, the result being four children. 

Hardy Merrill died March 12, 1855, aged eighty-one years. 

ELLIOT FERNALD. 

The progenitor of the family in America was one Doctor Reginald 
Fernald, who was born in England about 1595 and came to this 
country about 1630, settling in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and died 
there in 1656. He is said to have been the first physician who settled 
in New Hampshire. 

Mr. Elliot Fernald was of the fifth generation, and was born in Ber- 
wick, Maine, March 9, 1785. His name appears on the tax list in. Par- 
sonsfield first, in 1805. On January 31, 1811, he married Miss Sally 
Mudgett, daughter of Simeon Mudgett, and they had four children. 
He died June 16, 1858, aged seventy-three years, and Mrs. Fernald 
died April 7, 1882, aged ninety years. Mr. Fernald served the town 
quite a number of years as one of its municipal officers, was an indus- 
trious, upright citizen, a kind and affectionate husband and father, and 
a neighbor much esteemed. In politics, he was a democrat, never 
seeking distinction. He was never associated with any organized 



312 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

churcli, nor making pretension to be what he was not, yet he was a 
Christian in all good conscience, and his modest and retiring e very-day 
life of genuine honesty would put to shame many of loud-mouthed pro- 
fession^, whose names swell the church records, but whose lives of pro- 
fessed ritualistic exactness do not comport with their outward sancti- 
mony. 

His eldest daughter became the wife of Captain Joseph Dearborn, of 
Parsonsfield, the second daughter is the wife of Reverend James Rand, 
of Dover, New Hampshire, and the third, the wife of Thomas B. Went- 
worth, of Parsonsfield. 

His only son, Elliot, junior, married Ruth, the daughter of John 
and Sally (Wadleigh) Dearborn, resided on the home place till after 
the death of his father, served the town for several years as selectman, 
then moved to Saco, where he now resides, and where he has served on 
the board of aldermen. He possesses the like sterling qualities of 
heart and life, which characterized the father, and which are generally 
possessed by the descendants of old Doctor Reginald Fernald, the 
paternal ancestor. 

NEAL. 

The family is of English extraction and was among the earliest set- 
tlers of New Hampshire. In a deed dated May 17, 1629, from four 
Indian Sagamores to John Wheelwright and others, recorded in York 
County records, Walter Neal, one of the witnesses, is styled " Gov- 
ernor for the company of Laconia." In 1631, Captain Walter Neal 
"was agent of Gorges, Mason and others, for their patent including 
Portsmouth, Newcastle and Rye. He lived at Little Harbor, at the 
mouth of the Piscataqua. He discovered the White Mountains, drove 
away pirates, hung an Indian, made a survey and map of the territory 
he governed, and in 1634 returned to England. 

In 1683, another Walter Neal was a freeholder in Portsmouth and 
signed a petition to the king, which was sent to England by Nathaniel 
Weare. 

In 1785, two brothers, Walter Neal and Enoch Neal, came from 
Newmarket, New Hampshire, to Parsonsfield, and settled on the Middle 
Road. John Neal now lives where Walter lived, and Luther where 



^!**te 




-^u 



'r L/, KM^^^^^^ 



^lA-^^^ 



Re.v. L.T. Staples, 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 313 

Enoch settled. Walter left a son Walter, who had his father's farm, 
married Miss Shores and died in 1845, leaving several children, among 
whom were Creighton, Joseph and William. William now lives in 
Newmarket, and his mother is living with him at the age of ninety-five. 
Enoch Neal was born in Newmarket, in 1762, married Nanc}^ Towle 
in 1788, and died in Parsonsfield, June 22, 1817. His wife died 
December 23, 1840. 

REVEREND LORING T. STAPLES, 

Son of David and Catharine (Manson) Staples, was born in Liming- 
ton, Maine, February 28, 1830. His bojdiood was passed upon his 
father's farm. Young Staples early evinced a proclivity for the study 
of medicine, and after receiving the rudiments of a good education at 
the common schools in his native town, he later attended the acad- 
emies at Limerick and North Bridgton, where he prepared himself for 
college, with the avowed intention of entering the profession of med- 
icine. He was a quick, apt scholar, and took high rank in his class. He 
taught twenty-four terms of school in various towns in the state, and in 
Danvers, Massachusetts; marked success attending his eiforts. The 
failing health of his father compelled him to give up his college course, 
and he returned to the old homestead to assist his father on the farm. 

In 1857, he married Sarah D. Gilpatrick, of Limerick, Maine. Soon 
after his marriage, he moved to Wales, in Androscoggin County, 
Maine, where he remained several years. From there he removed to 
Limerick and thence to Parsonsfield, in 1866. 

In 1867, becoming the subject of profound religious impressions, he 
could not content himself in the ordinary routine of a secular calling, 
but was impressed with irresistible conviction that he was called in 
duty to engage in the ministry of the gospel, and was ordained by the 
First Freewill Baptists, becoming one of the leading preachers in that 
denomination. There is not the slightest trace of affectation in his 
address, but he challenges attention by his earnestness and sincerity. 
There is a seriousness in his manner before which levity shrinks 
abashed, an occasional vehemence which sweeps all obstacles before it. 

Soon after moving to Parsonsfield, he removed to Middle Road Vil- 
lage, and there successfully engaged in mercantile business, in which 



314 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

he remained for thirteen years, doing a very large amount of business 
and building up a large and extensive trade, carrying into it the same 
energy that has always characterized him. 

In 1871, his wife died, leaving three children, Henry L., now assist- 
ant physician at the Soldiers' Home, at Togus, Maine, Elva N, and 
Alice. In 1875, he married as his second wife, Miss Caroline M. 
Chamberlin, of Middle Road Village, the result of said union are two 
children, Anna and Arthur. While in his native town, he held offices 
of trust, and in his adopted town of Parsonsfield he was honored with 
office for many years. In 1880 and 1881, he represented Parsonsfield 
and Cornish in the State Legislature and took great delight in the 
investigation of all new questions, whether in law or politics. He 
became one of the leading members, strong in debate, with rare tact 
and judgment, acquitting himself with credit; quick to draw conclu- 
sions, he was a forcible debater and a dangerous opponent. 

He has never given up his itineracy, but with unshaken determina- 
tion and ardent zeal he has continued to pursue his religious work, 
making it the leading object and aim of his life. In 1886, he removed 
to the old neighborhood where he was born, and where he now resides, 
extensively engaged in farming. 

STEPHEN PARSONS, 

Son of Thomas Parsons, Esquire, and father of John U., had a decided 
genius for inventing. After several years' study, he devised a cannon 
which would discharge seven balls in rapid succession by turning a 
crank. About the time his model was perfected, he became interested 
in religion and united with the Congregational church. 

Reverend Joseph Garland relates the following: "In 1835, or about 
that date, Mr. Parsons attended a church conference at my father's 
house. He brought into the room, carefully wrapped up, something 
that excited the curiosity of all. During the meeting he rose quietly 
and remarked that he had an idol which he wished to destroy in their 
presence. He said the Bible taught him that he should seek to save 
1 ife not destroy it. Then placing his model upon the open fire, he 
looked calmly on while it was being consumed." 





^^'otosra^ 



^ Capt. Joseph S. Dearborn. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 315 

Mr. Parsons invented the sash plane, now m common use by carpen- 
ters, and also other useful tools. As elsewhere stated, the Parsonses 
have been very prominent in town. 

JOSEPH PAESONS, 

Son of Enoch Pai^sons, and great-grandson of the proprietor, has been 
for years identified with the interests of the town, as have also David 
and John U., sons of his brother Asa B. They are all good citizens 
and correct business men. 

JOSEPH S. DEARBORN, 

Second son of Captain Jacob Dearborn, was born in Hampton, New 
Hampshire, December 26, 1811. His father first moved to the town 
of Parsonsfield about 1796 or '97, and made purchase of a farm, here 
remaining until 1809, when he returned to Hampton, retaining his farm 
in Parsonsfield, and remained in Hampton until 1816, when he again 
came to Parsonsfield and remained here until his death. 

Joseph S. learned the trade of blacksmith of his father, which busi- 
ness he has followed largely most of his life. He married Lydia, 
daughter of William Frost, and reared a family of thirteen children, 
seven sons and six daughters. 

He has been a very industrious, hard-working man, engaged in agri- 
culture in addition to the business of his trade ; and has served his 
town acceptably in offices of trust. He was as well as his father and 
eldest brother, Jacob, junior, commissioned a captain in the state 
militia. Mrs. Dearborn died April 13, 1883. 

JOHN TUCK. 

Entered Hampton Academy in 1836, at seventeen, when that institu- 
tion was under the instruction of my brother Amos, as principal. 
"When about prepared to enter college, was obliged to give up doing so 
on account of failure of health. Having recovered in a measure, after 
a brief rest from study, returned to the academy and for a year reviewed 
and extended the study of the English branches. After teaching a 
few terms, settled on the paternal homestead in Parsonsfield. 

In January, 1848, removed to Biddeford, where I have lived till 
date, except for a short time in Washington, and nearly a year in the 



3l6 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

West. Have written for the press several papers on scientific and 
educational subjects, and others more numerous perhaps on political 
topics, and am the writer of the article on "Agricultuke op Par- 

SONSFIELD." 

This brief sketch of the life of Mr. Tuck was prepared by him on 
the day that he died, and only a few hours previous, and was the last 
work he ever accomplished. I introduce it as he wrote it, which gives. 
some idea of the modesty of the man. He had previously said to me 
in regard to the history, " Give me no title but simply plain John 
Tuck." He was one of the most interested in the forthcoming history 
of his native town, and one who gave the writer as much encourage- 
ment in the arduous work as any of its native sons. 

In politics he was early a democrat, later, a republican, and later 
still, an independent, and in religious views a bold Unitarian and an 
outspoken liberal. He was ever guided by strong convictions, was- 
mentally sensitive, yet strong, though physically weak and suffering 
much. 

He died October 8, 1886, aged sixty-seven years. His portrait is to 
be seen page 26, and is from a photograph taken some years prior. He 
had been intending to have a photograph taken for the express purpose 
of introduction in this history, but had been deterred therefrom 
because of a severe injury from which he had been suffering, received 
during his last visit to his native town in June previous, which ren- 
dered him unable to walk. He was just getting able to ride, and had 
on the day of his death been out for a ride, preparing the above sketch 
after his return. 

JOSEPH F. DEARBORN, 

Second son of Joseph S., is a man of unusual energy and business 
enterprise. He was born May 29, 1835, and with the large family of 
children obtained his education mostly at the district school, supple- 
mented by a few terms at Parsonsfield Seminary. In 1855, he went to 
Boston, Massachusetts, thence in 1857 to Kansas, then in 1859, he 
came to Portland, Maine, where he engaged in business for a time. 
May, 1861, he took his first trip to California (by Isthmus), where 
he remained one year, returning to Parsonsfield in 1862 and engaging 




":, 





ll'" ' 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 3I7 

in mercantile business. In 1863, he sold out his business interests 
and again went to California, remaining but one year, then returning 
to Parsonsfield and again engaging in trade, where he remained until 
1882. He then went to Illinois, where he engaged in business in 
Geneseo and Mattoon, in poultry and eggs. He resides in the city of 
Mattoon. Some idea of the extent of his business may be obtained 
from the fact that in January last sixty-one tons of dressed poultry was 
shipped by him from that city, and the total shipment for ten months 
was three himdred and ten tons. From March 1 to September 1, 1887, 
he also shipped one hundred and seventy-six thousand dozen of eggs, 
and he claims that his business is now only in its infancy, and is the 
only business he has ever engaged in or investigated that has no limit. 
He is also engaged in the wholesale vinegar business, shipping in car- 
load lots. 

In 1859, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Nathaniel and 
Pamelia Brackett, and they have had three children, two of whom are 
living. 

While a resident of Parsonsfield he was engaged in town business 
most of the years, and representative to the Legislature in 1876. His 
life has been and still is, an unusually busy one. 

SIMON FRQST DEARBORN, 

Brother of Joseph F., is the youngest son of Captain Joseph S., born 
January 24, 1851, and is now a resident of Boston, Massachusetts, 
engaged in business at 117 State Street. He left town in 1870, and in 
1881 was married to Miss Annie L. Rand, of Portsmouth, New Hamp- 
shire. They have one little daughter, born September 8, 1885. Mr. 
Dearborn is a young man of fine physique, full of energy, with a future 
full of promise. 

*RUFUS MCINTIRE, 

The third son of Mi cum and Rhoda (Allen) Mclntire, was born Decem- 
ber 19, 178-4 ; in York, Maine. He was fifth in descent from Micum 
Mclntire, a Highland Scotsman, who settled first in Berwick, then in 
Scotland parish, York, probably at the close of the Civil War in 
England, in 1646. 

* This sketch is from the pen of Miss ]\Iary R. Mclntire, of Portland, eldest daughter of Mr. Mclntire. 



31 8 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Rufus Mclntire fitted for college in South Berwick, under the 
instruction of Josiah W. Seaver, graduated from Dartmoutli College in 
1809, read law in Alfred with Honorable John Holmes three years, 
and was commissioned a captain in the United States Third Artillery, 
at the beginning of the war of 1812-15. He raised a company of more 
than a hundred men in York County, and served through the war on 
the frontier of New York. 

He came to Parsdnsfield in 1817 for a temporary residence, but spent 
the remainder of his life in this town, in whose welfare he felt a lively 
interest to the end, April 28, 1866. He served in many public offices, 
as representative of the town, as county attorney, as representative in 
Congress, land agent of Maine, United States marshal and surveyor of 
the port of Portland. 

In 1819, he married Nancy Hannaford, of Parsonsfield, who died 
February 2, 1830. In 1832, he married again, Mary B. Hannaford, a 
sister of his first wife. She died November 18, 1838. In his family he 
had ten children, Mary Rolfe, Annette, James Otis, Alonzo, Eveline, 
Malcolm, Rufus, Malcolm, Malcolm, Nan. Hannaford. Of these, three 
sons died in infancy. 

James Otis MoIntire, born in Parsonsfield March 5, 1822, was 
educated for the bar. In 1816, he married Miss Sarah A. Hubbard, of 
Cornish. His residence was in Alfred where he was Clerk of Courts 
ten years. He died in Parsonsfield April, 1875. His children are 
Philip W., Ella N., Sarah H., Katharine H. 

Rufus McIntire, junior, born April 6, 1828, is a farmer. He mar- 
ried, in Trivoli, Illinois, in 1856, Miss Eunice Jordan, from Gorham, 
Maine. He served as a soldier in an Illinois Battery, through the Civil 
War and still lives in Trivoli. His children are Eva M., married to 
Oscar Wykoif, Emma W., Alice, James Otis. 

Malcolm McIntire, born May 2, 1835, graduated from Bowdoin 
College in 1857. In 1858, he went to Owensboro', Kentucky, as a 
teacher. In 1869, he married Miss Mary Hardin, of Owensboro'. Has 
been a teacher in both Owensboro' and Hartford, Kentucky. He was 
in the service of the government through the Civil War, and for many 
years since was in the internal revenue service. His children are Mal- 
colm Hardin and Rufus McIntire. 



-''»! 










'^.VV:!^:-v~ 



'"'""^^c.., 



-^y^ 




Col SIMON J.WHITTEN. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 319 

The four daughters of Rufus Mclntire, all living and unmarried, left 
Parsonsfield, November, 1869, and have made a home for themselves 
together in Portland. 

The house in which they spent "their whole lives in Parsonsfield was 
built for the first settled minister, Reverend Benjamin Rolfe, nearly a 
century ago. 

COLONEL SIMON JORDAN WHITTEN, 

Was the eldest son of Richard and Mercy (Jose) Whitten, and was 
born in Scarboro, Maine, February 27, 1786. His parents soon after 
moved to Cornish, Maine, thence to Parsonsfield, and in 1833 they 
removed to Troy, Maine, where Mr. Richard Whitten died June 3, 1815. 
He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 

Simon J. married Mary B. Pike, of Cornish, on October 25, 1810, 
and they took up their residence at East Parsonsfield, where he entered 
into mercantile business in company with his wife's father, Mr. John 
Pike. Four years later the partnership was dissolved, and he removed 
to North Parsonsfield, where he erected an imposing mansion with out- 
buildings in keeping, and also a large store. Here he pursued farming 
and mercantile business for many years, dying January 31, 1859, at 
the age of seventy-three years. He reared a family of fourteen children 
viz. : Nancy, Albert, Armine, Mary, Mercy, Sarah, Simon, Dolly, Han- 
nah, Henry, Ira, Edwin, John and James, the eldest being born Jan- 
uary 10, 1812, and the youngest, February 11, 1832. 

Mr. Whitten was a man of much activity, devoting some time of his 
early life to driving a stage-coach on the line between Portsmouth and 
Haverhill, long years before the advent of the railway car with its 
pleasant accommodations. He was the first man who ever drove a 
six-horse team on said route. In later life, he took much interest in 
military matters, and occupied the various positions from private to 
colonel. He was a member of the fraternity of Free and Accepted 
Masons, prior to, and through the Morgan excitement. He was also 
one of the board of trustees of Parsonsfield Seminary and contributed 
largely toward its erection. 



320 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

BENNETT. 

I copy from a sketch of the Bennett family prepared by John P. 
Bennett, more than fifty years since. 

" John Bennett, a native of England, landed at Kittery, Maine, at a 
period unknown to the writer. He married Mary Wilson, of Kittery, 
and removed to Wells, where he and his consort died. They had a 
large family of children, but only four of them survived their parents. 
David Bennett died in early life, while engaged in the French War, in 
which he held the rank of lieutenant. One of his daughters married 
with a Mr. Wilson, of York ; the other, with a Mr. Story, of Wells, and 
died about 1833, at an advanced age. Joel Bennett, the youngest son, 
married Lydia Perkins, of York, daughter of Mr. John Perkins. Five 
children were the issue of this marriage, viz. : Mary, John, Lydia, Joel 
and Elizabeth. 

" Mary married Samuel Dalton and removed to Parsonsfield. Lydia 
married Mr. Richard Lord, and also removed to Parsonsfield. Joel 
married Lucy Story andjlived in Wells. Elizabeth died at an early 
. age. John Bennett, born June 1, 1773, removed to Parsonsfield about 
1800 and purchased a farm, and on the 25th of February, 1805, he 
married Susan Lougee, daughter of Deacon Gilman Lougee. Two 
sons were the issue of this marriage, Gilman Lougee and John Perkins. 
Mr. Bennett died August 13, 1833." 

From our town records, we learn that Mr. John Bennett, above 
referred to, was a prominent business man, holding the various offices 
of honor and trust. His eldest son, Gilman Lougee, was a physician 
(see page 141). 

His second son, John Peekins Bennett, was, like his father and 
elder brother Gilman, a man of marked ability, and prominentl}^ identi- 
fied with the business management of the town. He was born August 
21, 1811, obtained a good education at district and high schools in town, 
and at Effingham Academy ; was a teacher of common schools in early 
life, which he continued during the winter months, until near his 
decease. On July 2, 1834, married Miss Armine Whitten, daughter 
of Colonel Simon J. Whitten, and retaining the homestead farm, there 
lived, dying at the early age of forty years. He left three children, 
one son and two daughters, the eldest, Ellen S., married David C. 




'*«^'.* 





5Vv-rv>» \^^Jl/^x^./-v-NJl jVjV 



JOHN BENNETT. Esq. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 32 I 

Pike, of Cornish, where she has resided for nearly twenty-five years. 
The youngest, Mary A., married James C. Ayer, of Cornish, and there 
resides. 

Mr. Bennett was quiet and reserved, always gentlemanly and digni- 
fied in his deportment, kind and courteous to those with whom he 
associated, to his friendships ever true and to his trusts ever faithful. 
In addition to holding the various offices in the gift of the town, he 
was a member of the Legislatures of 1847 and '48. Mrs. Bennett sur- 
vived her husband many years, dying August 6, 188/". 

JOHN BENNETT, ESQUIRE, 

The only son of John P. and Armine (Whitten) Bennett, was born 
June 12, 1837, his father dying when he was but little past fourteen 
years of age, thus casting the heavy burden incident to the care and 
management of a large farm upon him and his widowed mother. To 
this onerous duty he devoted himself with zeal and assiduity. 

He attended school at North Parsonsfield Seminary, and at the age 
of eighteen years engaged in school teaching and civil engineering. 
To this latter and farming, he devoted most of his time till twenty-six 
years of age. At that time, having pursued the study of law, during 
his leisure hours, he commenced practice in the probate courts, but con- 
tinuing the business of civil engineering until about ten years since. 
He now and for man}-^ years has devoted most of his time to law busi- 
ness, having a very extensive practice in the probate courts of Maine, 
New Hampshire and Massachusetts. ,^ 

In politics a democrat and an acknowledged party leader, he has held 
the various town offices for the past twenty-five years, was a member 
of the democratic county committee for four years, and of the state 
committee for two years, and also was a representative in the Legisla- 
tures of 1872 and 1873. 

He has devoted considerable attention to farming, having greatly 
improved his lands in productiveness, and made substantial improve- 
ments in many ways. He possesses in a remarkable degree the merit 
of not only knowing how to mind his own business, but of keeping 
others in profound ignorance relative thereto; and in his wide acquain- 
21 



32 2 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

tance and busy life he is known as a discreet counselor and as a trusty 
and worthy friend. 

KNAPP. 

The name is of German origin, and the family is probably of Saxon 
stock. Its ancestry in England, however, has been traced as far back 
as the twelfth century, to one Petrus Knape, who lived in Suffolk 
County, in the eighth year of King Richard, 1198. 

The Knapps, of Parsonsfield are all included in the following geneal- 
ogy, arranged by generations : 

William Knapp, born in Suffolk County, England, in 1578, came 
to America as one of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1630, settled 
in Watertown, Massachusetts, was twice married, had seven children 
and died in Watertown in 1658. 

John Knapp, born in England in 1624, was brought to this country 
by his parents in 1630, married Sarah Young, May 25, 1660, had six 
children, and died in Watertown, in 1696. 

Isaac Knapp, born in Watertown, married Anna , lived in 

Charlestown, Cambridge and Salem, had eight children, and died in 
Salem, Massachusetts. 

Isaac Knapp, born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, June 15, 1699, 
lived in Salisbury, Massachusetts, was twice married, and died Febru- 
ary 4, 1792, leaving two sons. 

John Knapp, born in Salisbury, Massachusetts, March 11, 1736, was 
a soldier in both the French war and the Revolution, married Sarah 
Brown, and had four sons and four daughters, all born in Salisbury. 
He was by trade a ship carpenter. About the year 1800, he moved to 
Parsonsfield, and lived on the farm in school district No. 5, afterward 
occupied by Joshua Neal, now occupied by S. Leighton Ricker, Esquire. 
He died May 10, 1816. His wife died February 14, 1810. 

Children of John of Salisbury. Lois, born February 13, 1766, married 

Richardson, lived in New Hampshire, died April 6, 1842. Sally, 

born August 14, 1768, came to Parsonsfield with her parents, and died 
unmarried, December 27, 1811. 

Samuel, born July 9, 1770, came to Parsonsfield under the following 
circumstances: He had learned the trade of a carpenter, and in 1792 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 323 

went to Portland to obtain work. There he met a stranger who 
wanted a carpenter to go out in the country. The stranger was 
Thomas Parsons of Parsonsfield, and Samuel went home with him and 
finished his house. The house is still standing and known as the 
Emerson house, said to have been the first built frame house in the 
town. He bought a farm in school district No. 5, one-half mile east of 
the schoolhouse, and settled upon it, married Polly Mead, of Newmar- 
ket, New Hampshire, April 30, 1795, had five children who lived to 
grow up and be married, and died September 3, 1837. 

Polly, born July 3, 1773, married Thomas Osgood, lived in Ames- 
bury, Massachusetts, and died February 9, 1843. 

John, born December 28, 1776, came to Parsonsfield in 1795, was a 
carpenter and farmer, married Abigail Drake, lived with his father in 
Parsonsfield, moved to Effingham, and died April 11, 1843. Had no 
children. His wife died March 29, 1843. 

William, born December 1, 1778, came to Parsonsfield in 1798, mar- 
ried Mary Tucke, lived in Parsonsfield, moved to Effingham, owned 
mill since known as Morse's Mill, moved to Conway, New Hampshire, 
and died in Meredith, New Hampshire, January 5, 1859. Had no 
children. His wife died in 1851. 

Betsy, born June 26, 1782, came to Parsonsfield, married Josiah 
Gate, moved to Camden, Maine, and died February 6, 1842. She left 
four daughters. 

Daniel, born August 28, 1785, came to Parsonsfield in 1800, " served 
his time " with his brother Samuel, married Betsy Neal, daughter of 
Enoch Neal, January 8, 1816, who died January 22, 1842. He mar- 
ried Mehitable Tucke, December 28, 1842, resided in school district 
No. 5 until 1844, moved to Conway, New Hampshire, but returned in 
1858, and died in Parsonsfield, February 9, 1859. Had three children 
by his first wife. His wife Mehitable died May 10, 1860. 

Children of Samuel Knapp. Sally, born March 20, 1797, married 
Stephen Shores in 1822, died in Suffield, Connecticut, March 6, 1879, 
leaving one son. 

Mary, born September 12, 1799, married first, Isaac Moore, second, 
Joseph Hobbs, died in Parsonsfield, September 8, 1884. Had no chil- 
dren. 



324 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

John, born November 25, 1801, married Nancy Dresser, in 1826, 
lived in Parsonsfield, moved to Standish, Maine, was a farmer, died 
January 10, 1881. Left two daughters. 

Clarissa, born December 28, 1803, married Harvey M. Towle, Octo- 
ber, 1826, died in Parsonsfield, August 26, 1829. Left ope daughter 
and one son. 

Samuel, born in 1809, married Hannah Brown, was a carpenter, lived 
in Parsonsfield until 1843, moved to Great Falls, New Hampshire, then 
to Biddeford, Maine, died in Biddeford, March 5, 1857. His wife died 
October 6, 1863. They left two sons and two daughters. 

Children of Daniel Knapp. 

Sarah Ann, born June 22, 1818, married Jesse Adams, October 18, 
1849, died in Newbury, Massachusetts, June 15, 1859. Left one 
daughter. 

Elizabeth Rhoda, born May 13, 1824, married Samuel Merrill, June 
21, 1842, died in Parsonsfield, January 21, 1868. Left one son and 
three daughters. 

William Daniel, born October 17, 1830, graduated from Dartmouth 
College in 1855, admitted to the bar in York County, September, 1858, 
married Susan Hale Hussey, November 29, 1866, is a lawyer in Great 
Falls, New Hampshire, has no children. 

Abby Lane, daughter of Josiah and Betsy (Knapp) Cate, born in 1827, 
is unmarried and resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her sisters are 
;not living. 

Joseph Augustus, son of Stephen and Sally (Knapp) Shores, born in 
Acton, Maine, November 23, 1827, graduated from Dartmouth College 
in 1851, married Clara M. Towle August 25, 1852, has followed the 
profession of teacher, and resides in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. 

Clara Melissa, daughter of Harvey M. and Clarissa (Knapp) Towle, 
born in Parsonsfield August 1, 1827, graduated from New Hampton 
Ladies' Seminary in 1849, was a teacher, married Joseph A. Shores, 
.August 25,. 1852. They have two sons and one daughter. 

Samuel Knapp, son of Harvey M. and Clarissa (Knapp) Towle (see 
page 151). 

Children of John Knapp, of Standish. 

Mrs. Harriet M. Chase, born in 1828, died in 1885. 



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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 325 

Mrs. Clara Moses, born in 1830, resides in Boston, Massachusetts. 
Has one daughter. 

Children of Samuel Knapp, junior. 

Isaac, born in Parsonsfield in 1834, married Angle P. Speed, died in 
Rollingford, New Hampshire, May 22, 1874. Left no children. 

Susan Jane, born in Parsonsfield in 1836, married Samuel Pillsbury, 
of Biddeford, resides in Kittery, Maine. 

Clara, born in Great Falls, in 1849, married Whitehouse, 

resides in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 

Charles H., born in Great Falls, in 1851 married, resides in Brook- 
lyn, New York. Is a machinist and an inventor, and shares with the 
writer only, the exclusive honor of bearing the name among the 
descendants of the Knapps of Parsonsfield. 

Emma Jane, daughter of Jesse and Sarah Ann (Knapp) Adams, 
born in 1851, died December 8, 1880. 

Children of Samuel and Elizabeth R. (Knapp) Merrill, born in Par- 
sonsfield. 

Anna Francina, born June 26, 1844, married John F. Moore in 1868, 
resides in Newfield, Maine. 

Frank Lowell, born May 28, 1849, resides in Parsonsfield. 

Lizzie Knapp, born August 15, 1856, married William Merrill, resides 
in West Newbury, Massachusetts. 

Ida Maria, born May 13, 1864, resides in Parsonsfield. 

Nearly all the Knapps who lived at maturity in Parsonsfield were 
members of the Baptist church at the Middle Road. 

W. D. Knapp. 

SAMUEL TTJCK, 

The youngest of the five sons of Captain Samuel Tuck was born at West 
Parsonsfield, September 13, 1818. He served an apprenticeship with 
the late Francis S. Grace (blacksmith), of Parsonsfield, and at the age of 
twenty-one years, went to Stanstead, Canada, where he remained work- 
ing at his trade for three years. He then returned to his native town 
for a season, but in 1840 he returned to Canada, to the town of Eaton ^ 
where he labored as blacksmith until 1848, when'he removed to Bidde- 
ford, Maine, where he followed the same business for two years. In 



326 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

1850, he removed to Sherbrook, Province of Quebec, where he has 
since resided. 

For about twenty years after he settled in Sherbrook, he carried on 
the iron foundry business, and also was engaged in the stove and tin- 
ware manufacture and sale. Since 1870, having retired from active 
business, he resides at Sherbrook with his youngest son, Thomas J. 
Tuck, a successful druggist of that place. His eldest son, William M., 
died in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1864, being connected with the army 
in the quartermaster's department. In 1839, Mr. Tuck married Miss 
Adeline A., daughter of William Arms, Esquire, of Sherbrook. His 
life has been an active and successful one, devoted to the best interests 
of the communities in which he has resided, and his friendships are 
firm and enduring. For the past twenty-five 3'ears he has been deacon 
of the Congregational church at Sherbrook. In a recent letter to the 
writer, he says : " Though we shall probably spend our few remaining 
days in Sherbrook, we shall never forget old Parsonsfield, ' name ever 
dear.' " 

THE BANKS FAMILY. 

Being a record of the descendants of Richard^ Banks, of York, 
Maine, through his son John,^ of York, Moses,^ of York, Moses,* of 
Scarborough, and Jacob,^ of Parsonsfield. 

A complete genealogy of the Banks family, of this country, would 
include many scattered twigs of the parent tree, who have found 
homes in all parts of the Union. No connection between any of these 
families is known at present, and therefore, the limits of this article 
will be the record of the descendants of Richard Banks, an early set- 
tler of York, Maine. 

The date of his arrival here is not known definitely, but may be set 
about 1643, when he, in company with Abraham Preble, Richard Fox- 
well, John Winter and others, took the oath of fidelity at Scituate. 
We may infer that they had just come from England and subscribed 
their fealty to the government immediately, to insure their civil status. 
How long he remained there, if at all, is not known, and we next find 
him in York, Maine, in company with the Abraham Preble above men- 
tioned, John Twisden and Thomas Curtis, buying twelve acres of 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 327 

marsh in common, November 20, 1645, from Richard Vines, as steward 
of Ferdinando Gorges. Again, in the same year, the above parties, 
Curtis excepted, purchased of William Hooke twenty acres of upland 
each, " adjoining to the meadows and next to the fifty acres of Jo" All- 
cocke." 

He received a town grant of ten acres, July 2, 1653, another grant 
to him and Thomas Curtis, July 4, 1660, again November 12, 1660, and 
a fourth July 2, 1667. He held many minor public offices. He was 
selectman of the town of York in 1676, and when Massachusetts 
assumed control of the Province of Maine, in 1652, he with forty other 
townsmen signed the submission. His name is on the petition to 
Cromwell in 1656, and again in 1680, when the people of the province 
addressed a petition to Charles, the second ; his name appears also in 
the list of those who swore allegiance to his majesty the next year. 

He had but little to do with the courts, either as plaintiff, defendant 
or witness. At a session of the associates, holden at York, June 29, 
1654, Mrs. Elinor Hooke brought an action of trespass against Richard 
Banks " for mowing and detaching several acres of marsh to y® value 
of Fourteen pounds." The judges thought that he was guilty and 
awarded to her twenty-five pounds, with the costs of court. In 1666, 
he was a witness in two Sabbath-breaking prosecutions. This record 
is unexceptional in its brevity for those times, when the tongues of scold- 
ing women and malicious planters made the courts teem with prosecu- 
tions for slander. No person was safe then from the evil tongues of 
enemies, and the courts were always ready to spend their time in hearing 
such testimony. 

The town records of York were lost in the Indian massacre and 
destruction of 1692, when it is conjectured that Richard Banks per- 
ished, but from probate papers it is established beyond a doubt that he 
married Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. John and Elizabeth Alcock, of 
York. John Alcock died about 1675, for in that year, October 29, 
Joseph Alcock, Job Alcock and Richard Banks gave a bond of two 
hundred pounds to be satisfied with the division of John Alcock's estate. 
The heirs were Joseph Alcock, the oldest son, Mary, wife of John 
Twisden, Job Alcock, Elizabeth, wife of Richard Banks, Hannah Snell, 
Sarah Geddings and Lydia, wife of Reverend Shubael Dunimer. 



328 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

The date of the death of Richard Banks is known from an agreement 
on file in the York County Registry of Deeds VI, 123, dated April 2, 
1696, between Joseph Banks, administrator of the estate of Richard 
Banks, John Banks, and Elizabeth Banks, widow. It is recited therein 
that "s*^ Richard Banks died ... in y^ year 1692." In the division, 
John Banks had "all that parcel of land lying and being situated at 
the sea-side between y® Plantation of Nathaniel and Stephen Preble, of 
York . . . which by estimation twenty acres more or less " ; and 
assigned all claim to the remainder of the estate to his brother in con- 
sideration of the assumption of all the claims against the estate by 
Joseph, and " that my brother Joseph Banks do carefully and suitably 
provide for our honored and dearly beloved mother Elizabeth Banks, 
and give her an honorable maintenance with himself during her life 
and a decent and christian burial after her death if the providence of 
God will permit of it." The widow Elizabeth also assigned her share 
in the estate to her " trusty and well beloved son Joseph Banks," in 
consideration that he " doo demean himself a fonder son towards me in 
afording unto me Elizabeth Banks, the relict and widdow of s^ Richard 
Banks, that pity and aid which my age and my often infirmities doo 
call for." 

In looking at the date of the death of Richard Banks, we are forcibly 
reminded that on the 25th of January, 1692, occurred the bloody mas- 
sacre at York, when according to the Reverend John Pike, a contem- 
porary journalist, "about forty-eight persons were killed" and "car- 
ried captive seventy-three." At that time, Richard Banks was an old 
man, and it is probable that he and two of his sons were killed in that 
awful scene of carnage, for they all disappear from the records at that 
date. Four children by his wife are known to us : John, Samuel, Job 
and Joseph. 

JoHN^ Banks, probably the eldest son, had a grant of land from the 
town of York, in 1678, at which time if he had just attained his major- 
ity, he would have been born in 1657, or thereabouts. Again, the 16th 
of October, 1696, he had a grant of twenty acres, which was laid out 
March 5, 1699. In 1701, he was fined for absence as Grand Juror. 
He was probably married twice although the name of his first wife is 
not known, and it is only through the will of his second wife, where 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 329 

she speaks of " my daughter-in-law, my late husband's daughter," that 
the hint of a second marriage is given. His will is dated 22d of 
December, 1724, aud was proven April 8, 1726 (York Registry of Pro- 
bate, III, 200). He gives "unto my wife my Dwelling house and 
household goods " ; " unto my two sons, Moses and Aaron Banks " all 
the land and stock ; " unto my three daughters, Elizabeth, Mary and 
Hannah " ten pounds each. 

His second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Peter and Sarah (Saun- 
ders) Turbett, of Cape Porpoise. Her will was made in 1737, and 
proven 24th of August, same year. Therein she gives all her estate 
to her " beloved and Dutiful son, Moses Banks, who has taken faithful 
care of me and been tender over me and his wife who has been as a 
natural child to me." Out of her estate, Moses was to give to her 
"younger son Aaron, . . . daughter-in-law, my late husband's daugh- 
ter, ... to my daughter Mary, ... to my daughter Hannah," five 
shillings each. His children were as follows : By first wife, John and 
Elizabeth. By second wife, Moses (of whom hereafter), Mary, Hannah 
and Aaron. 

MosES^ Banks, a yeoman and mariner, was born about 1690, and 
resided upon his father's homestead in York. He was styled Lieuten- 
ant in the town records, probably for service in the militia. He 
married about 1712, Ruth, daughter of Elias and Magdalen (Hilton) 
Weare, who was born January 6, 1796-7. His death occurred in 1750, 
and his will was proven November 23 of that year. By Ruth his wife, 
who survived him, he had eleven children : Joshua, Elias, Mary, John, 
Elias, Jeremiah, Zebediah, Moses (of whom hereafter), Elizabeth, Ruth 
and Richard. 

MosES^ Banks, a surveyor by occupation, was born in Old York, 
July 24, 1732. He married in November, 1754, Phebe, daughter of 
Jacob and Abigail (Bracey) Curtis, of Kennebunkport. He removed 
to Scarborough, where he engaged in school teaching and the practice 
of his profession as a draughtsman and surveyor of land. 

Southgate, in his History of Scarborough, thus speaks of him and 
his ability, " He was well known in the vicinity as an excellent sur- 
veyor and draughtsman ; and we have seen plans executed by him 
which nearly equal engravings in their neat finish." 



330 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

On the 7th of May, 1775, eighteen days after the battle of Lexing- 
ton, he enlisted in the Continental army and was commissioned a Quar- 
termaster in Colonel Edmund Phinney's regiment, Massachusetts Line, 
serving four months and twenty-two days. He was commissioned a 
Second Lieutenant in the company of Captain Jeremiah Hill, of the 
same regiment. January 1, 1776, and saw active service at Fort George 
in the spring and summer of that year. 

The historian of Scarborough, in describing the joy of the people at 
the reception of the news of the surrender of Cornwallis, says : " Three 
military companies assembled at the house of Lieutenant Banks, on 
Scottow's Hill, and all the powder in town was consumed together 
with a vast quantity of liquor." Folsom's History of Saco and Bidde- 
ford, 287, speaks of him as " well known since the war as a skillful sur- 
veyor and draughtsman." He came to North Yarmouth, January, 
1805, to live with his son, Dr. Elias, who was then an inhabitant of the 
town. He moved to Saco in his old age and lived with his son Moses 
and died there March 10, 1822.* His widow died December 9, 1825. 

By wife Phebe, he had the following children, who survived to 
maturity, and several who died in infancy: Bracey, Moses, Elias, 
Jacob, Elizabeth and Abigail. 

Jacob^ Banks, of Parsonsfield, was born in Scarborough, February 
27, 1783, and married Reliance Edgecomb, October 3, 1805. (See 
genealogy Banks Family, Part IV). 

BENJAMIN DALTON. 

Benjamin was the younger of two brothers, sons of Samuel, who 
came to this town from Hampton, New Hampshire, both of whom were 
active and prominent in the business affairs of Parsonsfield. Benja- 
min was born in Hampton, New Hampshire, August 24, 1780, and died 
in Parsonsfield, September 25, 1856. Mr. Dalton grew up on the pic- 
turesque farm on which his father settled upon coming to Parsonsfield, 
and which was carried on by the two brothers after their father's death. 
The nearest school during their boyhood was in North Parsonsfield, 
which they attended, walking the long distance over a rough road, for 
several winters. 

* October 9, 1823, according to Zeb. Libby's almanac. • 



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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 33 1 

At an early age, the older brother, Samuel, began his business 
career, and opened a store on the Middle Road, which from that time 
was called Dalton's Corner. He soon after associated with him his 
brother Benjamin, who continued to do business in this place to the 
end of his life. His career was uneventful, but all the happier for 
that, and furnished a good example to our young men. Samuel was 
gradually drawn off from the Parsonsfield store, and subsequently from 
the town, engaging in various enterprises in different parts of the state, 
which taxed his time and strength, and ultimately undermined his 
health. Compelled to entrust many things to others, his interests suf- 
fered, his estate became embarassed, and he died comparatively young. 
His brother Benjamin was more prudent and pursued certainly a safer 
and probably a wiser course. All through life he kept to one thing. 
In his store at " Dalton's Corner " he transacted an extensive and 
profitable business. His character for probity was high and his integ- 
rity unquestioned. 

He married, August 21, 1806, Abigail, daughter of Pelatiah and 
Anna Cartland, of Rochester, New Hampshire. Mrs. Dalton survived 
her husband and lived to be nearly one hundred years old, dying in 
her ninety-eighth year. She was a woman of stately presence, and in 
features strongly resembling the celebrated Elizabeth Fry, of England. 
She was tall in figure, her countenance had an amiable and intelligent 
expression, and she bore herself with great dignity, retaining her erect 
carriage and the full possession of her mental faculties while she lived. 

They had four children, two sons, John and Asa, and two daughters, 
Huldah and Anna. John, a youth of great promise, died young. Hul- 
dah married Mr. John McArthur and died at the age of twenty-four 
years, leaving one daughter, now Doctor Huldah D. Potter, of Gardiner, 
Maine, where she has an extensive practice as a homeopathic physician, 
and is highly esteemed for her estimable traits of character. 

Asa was a young man of fine personal appearance and good natural 
abilities, which it was his misfortune to have no suitable opportunity 
for applying and developing. His preference was for business in a 
city, as Boston or Philadelphia, but was prevailed on to remain in Par- 
sonsfield, where he lived and died. He married his cousin. Patience 
W, Dalton. They had several children, one of whom alone survived 



332 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

infancy, Abigail Isabella, now the wife of Nathan J. Davis, M. D., of 
Somerville, Massachusetts, where her widowed mother also resides. 
Mrs. Davis has one son, Dalton Holmes. 

After their son John's death, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Dalton united 
with the Friends' meeting, and were identified with it from that time. 
In the even tenor of their daily life, their simple habits, quiet manners 
and the moderation enjoined by the apostle, they were typical Friends. 

Anna, the only child who survived the parents, is still in Parsons- 
field, having occupied until very recently the old Dalton homestead. 
She married, September 5, 1829, Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, of Alton, 
New Hampshire. Of their six children, four are still living, Ben- 
jamin F., in Los Angeles, California; Edwin Cartland, in Portland, 
Maine ; John Dalton, in southern California, and Caroline M,, the wife 
of Reverend Loring T. Staples, of Limerick, Maine. Of the two 
daughters remaining, Abby M. married Mr. Henry P. Johnson, and 
left a famil}^ of several children. Althea died unmarried. All her sur- 
viving children are doing well, and Mrs. Chamberlain herself is worthy 
to be the daughter of her mother, who was one of the first women of 
her time. 

ALLEN GAKNER, 

Whose portrait here appears, has been a resident of the town but a few 
years, yet he is closel}'' identified with one of its most prominent inter- 
ests, " The Kezar Falls Woolen Manufacturing Company," which was 
organized in December, 1880, by an act of the Legislature, with an 
authorized capital of thirty thousand dollars. It was designed to put 
in one set of machinery, and ten thousand dollars in stock was at once 
taken by the citizens. By the spring of 1881, fifteen thousand dollars 
had been raised and expended, and the enterprise yet far from comple- 
tion. In April, 1881, Mr. Garner was engaged to superintend the set- 
ting of machinery. Five thousand dollars additional were required to 
put the mill in operation. 

Among those whose efforts made the enterprise a success, and who 
contributed most liberally, were Mr. George W. Towle and Mr. John 
Devereux, of Parsonsfield, and Mrs. Fox, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, 
late of this town. The officers consist of G. W. Towle, president; 



^ 




oM.^^ / 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 333 

F. G. Devereux, clerk ; G. W. Towle, John Devereux and Allen Gar- 
ner, directors, with Allen Garner, agent and manager. The first yard 
of cloth was woven in July, 1881. In 1882, they manufactured 88,540 
yards. In 1886, 322,000 yards. 

The company is increasing the capacity of their buildings, putting in 
more machinery, is employing nearly one hundred persons, with a pay- 
roll of over two thousand dollars per month, and the business is yet in 
its infancy. 

Much is due to the executive ability of Mr. Garner. He was born 
in England, 1842, has followed the business from his early life, having 
been in every position from bobbin-boy to manager, prior to his resi- 
dence in this town. His father dying when he was six years of age, 
his mother soon decided to remove with her family to this country, and 
finally, in 1856, settled in Lewiston. He is a man of uprightness and 
strict business integrity, esteemed by all his associates. 

WIGGIN. 

Early among the pioneers of Parsonsfield, we find the names of 
Bradstreet Wiggin and Winthrop Wiggin, and a few years later that 
of Nathan Wiggin ; whether they were related, near or far, or not at 
all, we are unable at this date to ascertain. No traces of the families 
of Bradstreet or Winthrop remain, no one of whom we inquire can 
give us any clue. 

The family of Nathan Wiggin has been prominent for many years. 
He was born in Stratham, New Hampshire, October 22, 1760, and mar- 
ried Olive Weymouth, March 21, 1782. 

They had nine children, Joseph, Nathan, Nathaniel, Sally, Mitty, 
Daniel, Samuel, Lot and Drusilla. Two of his sons, Daniel and 
Samuel, settled in Parsonsfield. Lot settled in Limerick. Daniel was 
thrice married, had a numerous family, now all gone, only two grand- 
children remaining, one in St. Louis, the son of his son, William H., 
and one in Boston, the son of his son Nathaniel. 

SAMUEL WIGGIN, 

The fifth son of Nathan, of whom worthy mention is made, on page 
forty-two, was a man of more than ordinary mental ability and moral 



334 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

worth. He was quite independent in his modes of thought and expres- 
sion, so much so as to be regarded somewhat eccentric, yet it was an 
eccentricity that exists with those whose minds are in advance, and 
who exist mentally in an atmosphere above and beyond their surround- 
ings, anticipating the thought and progress of the ages. Yet there was 
a warmth in his friendships and a heartiness in his genial greetings, 
which lapse of time does not efface, and a genuine kindness to the loved 
ones of his household which renders sweet and fresh the memory of the 
dear father to those who survive. 

He was born September 9, 1796, married Miss Louisa McCullock 
Downing, April 30, 1831, and died April 22, 1852. Mrs. Wiggin, a 
lady worthy her husband, survived him nearly thirty years, dying 
December 3, 1881, aged seventy-two years. Of the three daughters, 
the second, Maria Drown, died at eighteen years of age ; the eldest, 
Eliza Jane, retains the family homestead, where she resides, and the 
youngest, Sally Esther, is the wife of Honorable Cliarles F. Sanborn, 
of Parsonsfield. 

ross. 

It appears that Ebenezer Foss, senior, became a property holder, and 
paid taxes in town first in 1798. He took up lands in what is termed 
the Gore, on which his descendants have ever lived. His two sons, 
Levi and Samuel, settled in town. Levi married Betsey Elliot, daugh- 
ter of Daniel and Lydia Elliot, on September 1, 1825, and remained on 
the home place, where he died some years since. Mrs. Foss is yet liv- 
ing, in her eighty-eighth year. Here they reared a family of three 
children, Eben, Lydia and Freeman. The youngest son is now occu- 
pying the homestead with his widowed mother. The daughter, Lydia, 
is the wife of Adoniram Ricker of Cornish, Maine. 

EBEN FOSS, 
Whose portrait here appears, is the eldest son, born in 1826. He 
remained on the farm with his parents till about 1850, when he went 
to Massachusetts and was there employed for some years, and was for 
a time associated with John Devereux in business, as piano movers, but 
sold out that business some years since and returned to the old home, 




X. 



jCy^ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 335 

and later, purchased the farm adjoining, where Oliver and Benning 
Parker formerly lived, and there resides. 

He is an open-hearted, generous friend, firm to his convictions, and 
ready to express his views in approval or disapproval, without fear, 
and regardless of favor if his conviction of duty thus prompts. In pol- 
itics, a democrat, he enjoys not only the confidence of his party, but of 
his fellow townsmen, and has been frequently elected to serve in 
important positions. In 1852, he married a Miss Patten of Newport, 
and they have one son who resides with them. 

Samuel Foss, a brother of Levi and son of Ebenezer Foss, senior, 
married Betsey, daughter of Captain Jacob Dearborn, and settled on the 
North road, so called, some two miles north of East Parsonsfield. He 
has been dead for nearly twenty years. His widow resides with the 
only surviving son, on the old homestead. 

MA.JOR PAUL BURNHAM 

Was the first of the name to take up a home in the new town of Par- 
sonsfield. We find his name on the tax list first in 1795. He was 
twice married, first to Sally Weymouth, and second to Comfort Pease. 
He was born February 5, 1760, in Epping, New Hampshire, and died 
in Parsonsfield, June 3, 1832. His children were Betsey, Abigail, Asa, 
Noah, Sally, Nancy, Polly, John, Julia Comfort, Joseph and Susannah. 

Asa married a daughter of Colonel Joseph Parsons, and after a time 
moved to Winslow, Maine. Noah married Martha Hilton. There are 
three of his sons living, George O. Burnham, of Biddeford, James E., 
who resides in town on the homestead farm, and John L., who is a suc- 
cessful merchant in Nashville, Tennessee. 

John, the third son of Major Paul, remained with his father in the 
home where he lived and died. Married Lydia Burbank, and they had 
issue two sons and two daughters. Their eldest son, Thatcher W., 
retains the old farm and occupies the same house which was built in 
1799. It is a nicely proportioned two story house, and was for many 
years at the opening of the present century occupied as a tavern. The 
youngest son, John, is a resident of Dover, New Hampshire. Of the 
two daughters, one resides in Providence, R. I., the wife of Charles B. 
Green ; and the other is Mrs. Eben F. Severance, and resides in Limerick. 



336 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

CRAM. 

Major James Cram (who was a commissary in the array of the Revo- 
lution, with rank of Major) came to Parsonsfield in 1797. His chil- 
dren were VVadleigh, Abigail, James, Lydia, Hannah, Mary and John. 

Wadleigh Cram was for a time in trade at Middle Road, prior to the 
Daltons. James, second, settled in Parsonsfield ; and one of his sons, 
Nathan B. occupies the old liomestead with his son Frank. Two other 
of the sons of Nathan B. are properly mentioned on page sixty-nine, 
and the youngest is a teacher of schools. James Cram, second, joined 
the Friends' society about 1812, and remained a member through life. 

Nathan B. had two brothers, James and Merrill, James settled in 
Brownfield and Merrill in Somersworth, New Hampshire. 

KEZAR. 

Of this family, which for many years was prominent in town, we have 
been unable to gather desired information. We find tliat AbiualtKezar 
was for a long time one of the municipal officers, and was for three 
years representative in the legislature ; tliat he was married October 
27, 1803, to Dorcas Perry, and that the}^ had cliildren, Sarah, Jane, 
John, Nancy, Mary, Abn»ll, Susanna Hannah, and James. Mr. Kezar 
died October 9, 1849, surviving his wife but two years. There were 
evidently several older brothers of Abndi, probably the son of George, 
the celebrated hunter. In records of 1795, we find the names of 
George Kezar, also Josiah and Ebenezer. In 1795, the name of 
George Kezar, junior, is added, and in 1796 that of Abna^ We do not 
find the name of George, junior, after 1797. But those of George, Josiah, 
Ebenezer and Abnflfh remain. (I presume George, senior, died about 
1797.) Of the family of Ahuih, his son John was most prominent. 

JOHN KEZAR 

Was born August 3, 1807. He married a Miss Anna Mathews, of 
Ossipee, New Hampshire, in 1828, and they had five cliildren, two sons 
and three daughters. Their eldest son, Samuel F., is living, a resident 
of Turner, Maine. Mr. Kezar was, like his father, a prominent busi- 
ness man of the town, holding various offices, and he served in both 
branches of the Legislature, being representative in the years 1851-52 
and 53, and senator in 1856. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 337 

He took great interest in neat stock, and next after Harvey Page, 
expended considerable money and effort in the introduction of improved 
breeds, especially the Durham. He died in 1864. Mrs. Kezar died in 
1861. * 

MUDGETT. 

Notwithstanding we have made considerable inquiry, we have been 
unable to gain desired information relative to this family, and while it 
is asserted by those of the present generation that Simeon was the 
original settler in this town, we are led to believe that there is one 
generation back of said Simeon. Among the first to settle here was 
one David Mudgett, whose name is lost from our records prior to 1794. 
But the names of six Mudgetts soon thereafter appear, and in the fol- 
lowing order, viz. : Joseph, Jeremiah, Simeon, Abraham, Nathaniel and 
John. These, we presume, are the sons of David, the original settler, 
In this, however, we may be in error. They all disappear from the 
records before 1807, save Joseph and Simeon. Joseph married Sarah 
Rumery, of Biddeford, and Jeremiah married Molly Hilton, both on 
March 27, 1786. The marriages were solemnized by Reverend Mr. 
Weeks. Abraham married Katy Paine, January 2, 1797, ceremony by 
Reverend Mr. Chadbourn. No further trace is found of Nathaniel and 
John. Joseph's children were Mary, Susanna, Joseph, Jemima and 
John, all born between the years 1790 and 1806, and there is no trace 
of one of these. Mr. Joseph Mudgett died May 8, 1811, and thereafter 
Simeon becomes the only remaining one of that generation. He was 
married November 26, 1789, to Dorothy Edgerley, and they had six 
children, two sons and four daughters, Sally, David, John, Judith, 
Dolly and Mary. The last two only are living. David and John both 
settled in Parsonsfield, and followed farming, were both men who were 
esteemed and respected for their uprightness and true manliness. 
David married Salome Merrill, and they had two sons, Doctor Simeon 
Mudgett, of Dexter, Maine, and Hardy, a resident of Massachusetts, 
and three daughters, Abigail, the wife of Hardy Merrill, of Parsons- 
field, Harriet, the wife of B. F. Pease, of Cornish, and Sarah, the wife 
of Frank S. Carr, of Sanger ville. 

John Mudgett was more prominent in the business affairs of the 
22 



33^ HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

town, and was representative to the Legislature in 1843 and 44. He 
married Zipporah Dearborn, daughter of Captain Jacob Dearborn, and 
had three sons and three daughters. His youngest son resides in town. 
Jacob, the second son, is a resident of Lynn, Massachusetts. One 
daughter, Mrs. Eben Day, resides in Limerick, and one, Mrs. Tracy 
Hughes, in Saco. Of the eldest son, Simeon D., and the youngest 
daughter, Ada, the writer has no knowledge. 

MOULTON. 

The Moulton families of Parsonsfield trace their ancestral line by 
authentic records back into the early colonial history, thence back, on 
authority that affords very strong probability of being correct, through 
nearly twenty generations of English families, until it is finally lost in 
the dimness of the eleventh century, in the generations preceding the 
Norman Conquest. The name seems formerly to have been spelled 
" Multon," and in " Domesday Book " where the great survey appears 
to have been made by order of William the Conqueror, in A.D., 1086, 
''Thomas Multon" is mentioned as a land owner, having been put in 
possession of " Galeshore " seized from the " Gales " by King William. 

Later, during the reign of King Richard in the latter part of the 
twelfth century, another " Thomas de Multon, Earl of Gilsland " is 
spoken of as one of the favorites of the king. Readers of Walter Scott 
will see, both in " Ivanhoe " and " The Talisman," reference made to 
this same " Thomas de Multon " in connection with the personal his- 
tory of King Richard. Thomas de Multon appears to have been one 
of the nobles that arrested " Magna Charta " from King John, and still 
later, about A.D., 1297, appears another Thomas de Multon as signer of 
the Great Charter of Edward. For nearly two hundred and forty 
years this name appears in every generation among the English 
nobility. 

We refer to these facts however, merely to introduce the Moulton 
family, which we purpose to trace only briefly back to A.D., 1637, when 
a young man who had scarcely attained his majority came from Ormsby, 
Norfolk county, England with Robert Page and his family, and landed 
at Newbury, near the Merrimac. He was a brother to John Moulton 
and Thomas Moulton who had preceded him to America. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 339 

The names Thomas, John, William, George, Samuel and Jeremiah 
a-re constantly recurring in the Moulton family during the generations. 
This young emigrant, who came with Robert Page's family, was Wil- 
liam Moulton, who married Robert Page's daughter, Margaret, and 
became the ancester of the Parsonsfield Moultons. His youngest son, 
William, born in 1661, married Abigail Webster, cousin to Hannah 
Dustin (so famous in the history of Indian captivity). He appears to 
have been a young man of energy, and coming to Moulton Hill in 
Newbury in 1683, he built him a house for his family, which his 
descendants continue to occupy. For this and other important facts, 
credit is to be given to Henry W. Moulton Esquire, of Newburyport, 
Massachusetts. 

Joseph Moulton, son of the preceding, was born in a.d., 1694, and 
was one of a numerous family. He reared a large family of sons and 
daughters, among whom was Samuel Moulton born in 1718 and who 
was the father of two brothers, Samuel Moulton and Cutting Moulton, 
who after having been in the Revolutionary War, and having fought 
in the trenches at Bunker Hill, after the close of the war, turned their 
faces to the northern wilderness, and settled in Parsonsfield, Maine,, 
about 1788. 

Samuel settled on the farm now owned by Joseph Moulton, and Cut- 
ting settled on the farm now owned by William E. Moulton. The 
children to the fifth generation of these ancient pioneers are scattered 
far and wide, many of whom still remain in York and Cumberland 
counties in Maine, and in Strafford and Carroll counties in New 
Hampshire. 

In Parsonsfield, this family has not only been numerous but prom- 
inent. One of the first deacons of the Free Baptist church, under 
Reverend John Buzzell, was Samuel Moulton. Many remember with 
distinctness those two sterling men, Deacon Samuel Moulton and 
Deacon John Rand, men in whom the virtues of meekness, humility 
and loving kindness were combined with boldness, aggressiveness and 
outspoken independence. They were conscientious, firm and progres- 
sive. Then later, his son Samuel, also deacon, and another son Silas, 
for many years a leading minister in the old-school Free Baptist church. 
In fact, there are many who should receive especial mention among the. 



340 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

families who have descended from the early pioneers, Samuel and 
Cutting. Doctors Alvah, John and Albert R., have already been re- 
ferred to on pages 189, 154 and 155, and Frank and Alvah on page 70. 
Many have been quite scholarly, and have won distinction as teachers 
and in positions of honor and trust. Among these are Lorenzo, yet a 
resident of town, George, a resident of Limerick, and David O., a resi- 
dent of Cape Elizabeth. Many others deserve equal commendation. 

WILLIAM E. MOULTON, 

Son of William and Mary (Pearl) Moulton, was born in Parsonsfield, 
March 19, 1813, married Miss Priscilla Towle, November 30, 1837, and 
is yet living on the old homestead farm of the pioneer Cutting, his 
grandfather. 

Of their eight children, six are yet living. Lucy, the wife of James 
Perry, of Portland ; Mary, wife of Judge Hill, of Sandwich, New 
Hampshire ; Ada, wife of Albion Towle, of Newfield ; Eva, wife of 
H. W. Colcord, of Parsonsfied ; Clara, wife of John B. Lord, of this 
town, and Hattie, who resides with the father. One died in infancy, 
and one son, Alonzo, died August 12, 1886, of disease contracted while 
in the United States service, during the late Civil War. 

Mr. Moulton has served his townsmen faithfully and well in the 
various offices of selectman, superintending school committee, treasurer, 
etc. ; has ever been an independent thinker, progressive and stalwart, 
and though at present, as for over fifty years past, an active and effi- 
cient member of the Free Baptist church, he is, and ever has been, a 
true, consistent Christian, of advanced thought and liberal views. He 
has ever been devoted to the best interests of humanity, and the inter- 
ests of his native town have always found in him a true supporter. 
He was, notwithstanding the burden ctf years, very actively interested 
in the proper observance of its centennial, and was the treasurer of the 
organized committee chosen to prosecute the work, and was not absent 
from any of its numerous meetings, where his presence could afford aid 
or encouragement. Years with him do not quench his generous im- 
pulses, nor destroy his ardent desires for progress. 




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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 34 1 



MAKSTON. 



The early settlers of this family came from Hampton, New Hamp- 
shire. David Marston was the first. He was born February 5, 1756, 
married Mary Page in 1782, and died January 29, 1835. He was one 
of the municipal officers of the town for many years, and representative 
to the general court of Massachusetts for the four years from 1806 to 
1809, inclusive. The most prominent of his sons was Jacob, the fourth 
son, born April 16, 1799. Married Martha Doe, 1827, and died January 
29, 1853. He was chosen to serve his townsmen quite frequently in 
various ways, and was representative to the Legislature of 1849 and '50. 

Two brothers, Isaac and Smith Marston, of another family, set- 
tled in the southern portion of the town and resided there many years. 
Isaac moved, later, to Newfield and died there in 1880. His widow is 
yet living, a very active, amiable and accomplished lady, now over 
ninety years of age. His only daughter was the wife of John Garland ; 
both now are gone. Smith died in Parsonsfield some twenty years 
since, and his only son, Samuel, died in 1886. His eldest daughter is 
the wife of Otis Hatch, of Tarnworth, New Hampshire, and the young- 
est, the wife of John Ferrin, of Freedom. These were also families of 
good standing and repute. 

BLAZO. 

From the veteran lawyer, Robert T. Blazo, of Parsonsfield, I learn 
the following : Amos Blazo, from Bordeaux, France, came to the United 
States about 1735, and settled in Greenland, New Hampshire, and that 
a son of his, by the name of Amos, settled in Parsonsfield in 1778 on 
the farm now owned by his grandson, Robert T. ; that he had sons, 
Daniel, John, Ebenezer, Joseph, Jonathan and William, all of whom 
settled in town on farms near, or adjoining each other. Robert Tib- 
bets Blazo, eldest son of Daniel and Abigail Chapman Blazo, has 
received merited mention on page one hundred twenty-nine ; his son, 
Doctor Charles, page one hundred fifty-six. As a family they have been 
numerous, and of high standing and good repute in society, serving 
faithfully in whatever positions they have been called to fill — honest, 
scholarly and retiring. 



342 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

BOOTHBY. 

This family has been and is now quite numerous in town. They 
are agriculturists and stock-raisers, and are and have been amongst our 
best farmers and most reliable financiers, Samuel and John Boothby, 
sons of Joseph Boothby, deserve especial mention. 

Chase Boothby, of whom a sketch appears page forty-three, has been 
more prominently identified with the business interests of the town than 
any other of the name. He has been much in office and was repre- 
sentative to the legislature in 1863. He is safe and reliable, a good 
financier and a man of wealth. As a family, the Boothbys are indus- 
trious, frugal, upright and circumspect. 

CHURCHILL. 

Through the kindness of O. B. Churchill, I am able to state the fol- 
lowing facts relative to this family. The first in this country was John 
Cliurchill, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, who married Hannah Pontus 
in 1644. Their son Joseph was there born, and on June 3, 1672, mar- 
ried Sarah Hicks. 

July 6, 1686, they had a son born whom they named Barnabas, who 
on February 14,. 1714, was married to Lydia Harlow, and in turn their 
son Thomas, born April 30, 1730, married Mary Ewer, of Barnstable, 
and moved to Newmarket, New Hampshire, where their son, the first 
settler of Parsonsfield, Ichabod Churchill was born June 21, 1764. He 
married Elizabeth Doe and moved into town in 1797, and purchased a 
farm which has continued in the name, now owned by his grandson, 
Nathaniel H., who has done more for the past fifteen years to improve 
the breeds of neat stock in town than has been done by all others for a 
century. Thomas, the third son of Ichabod, born January 20, 1798, 
occupied the homestead farm, married Mary Banks, March 14, 1830, 
and 'they had eight children, five sons and three daughters. One 
son and one daughter died in infancy, and the others are yet living, 
three, Thomas S., Otis B., and Nathaniel H., in town, successful 
farmers and business men, and one, John Churchill, in Freedom, New 
Hampshire. 



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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 343 

THOMAS S. CHURCHILL 

Was born May 6, 1831, was educated at North Parsonsfield Seminary, 
married Mary A., daughter of William D. Dixon, and took up liis abode 
with Mr. Dixon, on whicli place he now resides. He purchased the farm 
prior to the death of Mr. Dixon, and has built thereon large and com- 
modious buildings and made many improvements. They had three 
children, only one of whom is now living, William D. D. Churchill, of 
Cornish, Maine. Mrs. Churchill died, and Mr. Churchill again mar- 
ried, Mrs. Olive Roberts, daughter of James Bowers, of Whitestown, 
New York, now a resident of Newfield, Maine. 

Mr. Churchill is modest and retiring, a close thinker, a man of sound 
judgment, of determination and force of character, positive in- his con- 
victions, and scrupulously conscientious in the performance of his obli- 
gations, an hospitable, worthy neighbor, citizen and friend. 

MOSES DAVIS 

Was born in Cornish, Maine, November 14, 1790, married Abigail Moul- 
ton, daughter of Deacon Samuel Moulton, senior, of Parsonsfield, and 
had three children, Alvah M., Sarah and Malcolm. The latter is a 
physician, of whom brief mention is made on page 154. His father 
died when he was twelve years of age and after living in several fami- 
lies in Parsonsfield till he was nineteen, he started for the West, and 
has made the best of his opportunities. He held important offices in 
Isabella County, Michigan, for some six years, was a member of the 
second regiment cavalry. He is now well established in Clare, 
Michigan. 

The daughter Sarah died in Biddeford, Maine, in 1879. 

Alvah M.=, the eldest son, was born March 19, 1820, married Sarah, 
daughter of Gardner Smart, of Parsonsfield, October 24, 1844, and died 
in Limerick, Maine, June 11, 1879. He was by trade a furniture man- 
ufacturer, but was engaged for manj'- years in mercantile business at 
North Parsonsfield, Acton, Freedom New Hampshire, and Limerick. 
While in New Hampshire he was representative to the legislature and 
held the office of county treasurer for three years. He was a man 
esteemed for his integrity, business capacity and genuine worth. 



344 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

FENDERSON. 

John Fenderson was the first settler of this name. He was a soldier 
in the Revolution and at one time aid-de-camp to General Lafayette. 
The following is a copy of his discharge from the service as corporal. 

" West Point, Jan. 4, 1781. 

This may certify that Coporal John Fenderson of the U Company 
has turned in 1 fire lock, 1 cartrig box, 14 rounds, 3 flints, 1 napsac, 1 
bunget, 1 C. belt, for he being discharged the army. 

T. Hunt, Capt." 

He was born in Scarborough, July 15, 1756, and married Sarah 
Kenny of Saco, and had a family of six children. Folly, Nathan, 
Nathaniel, John, Edward and Sally, He came to Parsonsfield in 1795, 
and died June 24, 1852. The willow tree in front of his residence, 
grew to large proportions, from a walking-stick which he carelessly 
stuck in the ground, measuring eighteen feet in circumference. 
Nathan, his eldest son, born March 1, 1785, in Saco, married Betsey 
Parks, daughter of Deacon Joseph Parks of Parsonsfield, June 19, 1808, 
and resided on the home place in Parsonsfield. Their children were 
Joseph, Edward, Ivory, Jonathan and John. All have left town ex- 
cept Ivory who occupies the same homestead with his son Nathan W. 

Ivory Fenderson was born February 9, 1816, and married Martha 
Chase of Oxford, April 4, 1841. He is a republican in politics and a 
party leader in town, who has in the past been selected, even by those 
who politically oppose him, to serve in positions of responsibility. He 
is a very genial man, who has an abundance of friends and acquaint- 
ances, straightforward in his dealings, of quick perceptions and accur- 
ate in his judgments. He was a member of the legislature of 1866 and 
67. His eldest brother, Joseph, settled in South Danvers, and died 
there December 13, 1884. Edward, the next, resided in town for many 
years, but is now a resident of Caribou, Maine. Jonathan is a whole- 
sale commission merchant in Portland. The youngest brother, John, 
is superintendent of local freight at Fitchburg depot, Charlestown, 
Massachusetts. 

There are the descendants of William Fenderson, a brother of Cor- 
poral John, living in the same neighborhood, men of equal integrity 
and merit. It was adjoining the farm of John Fenderson, where Simon 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 345 

Frost and his son William took up their residence. Henry Merrill 
succeeded them, and his sons, John and Robert, succeeded him. Also, 
in this immediate neighborhood, Moses Wilson settled on a place now 
owned by his son Joseph and grandson Moses. These are all success- 
ful and independent farmers. 

MOOEE. 

About the year 1650, Colonel Jonathan Moore came to this country 
and settled in Stratham, New Hampshire. He had two sons, Jonathan 
and William. William had four sons, William, Coffin, Harvey and 
Peter. The third son, Harvey, born July 12, 1741, married Miss Mary 
Wiggin, of Stratham, November 18, 1762. They had eight children, 
Susanna, Abigail, Betsey, Simon, John, Harvey, Sally, and one son 
dying in infancy. The oldest was born in 1763, and the youngest in 
1782, all born in Stratham. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and 
subsequently was Commissioned Captain by the Secretary of War. In 
1791, he came with his family to Parsonsfield and died May, 1801. 
His wife survived till October 8, 1817. 

His eldest daughter married Job Colcord, and they had four chil- 
dren. Job, Charles, Mary and . His second daughter Abigail mar- 
ried Stephen Parsons, and they had seven children, Jolm U., Enoch, 
Betsey, Louisa, Abigail, Mary and Harvey. Mrs. Colcord and Mrs. 
Parsons both died in 1832. The third daughter married Simeon Towle, 
and resided in town until her death in 1854. They had eight children, 
Betsey, Abigail, Harvey, Ruth, Mary, Levi, Sally and Priscilla. 

Simeon Moore, the oldest son, had two children, Jacob and Char- 
lotte. He died in 1823. John Moore married Betsey Tuck, and occu- 
pied the homestead till his death, April 28, 1828. He bequeathed his 
property to his brother Harvey. Harvey, born October 31, 1779, mar- 
ried the daughter of Reverend Levi Chadbourn, November 9, 1802, and 
died May 7, 1848. Mrs. Moore died January 15, 1872. They had ten 
children, four daughters and six sons, Nancy, Harvey, Levi, Mary, 
Cyrus, Ira, John, Martha, Urania and James Otis. All are now gone 
save Ira, Martha and Urania. Three were physicians, whose lives are 
sketched on pages 142 and 143. Nancy married a Mitchell, and two 
children of hers survive, Mrs. Van Buren Glidden, of Effingham, and 



34^ HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Mrs. Doctor I. F. Pray, of New York City. Harvey married a Doe, and 
raised a large family of children, all residents elsewhere. Three of 
them reside in Lynn, viz. : Edwin, Charles and Calvin. Mr. Moore 
died in 1885. Mary, who was never married, resided with her brother, 
Cyrus K., on the homestead. Cyrus was a devoted and true friend, a 
man of more than ordinary intelligence, and a conscientious and noble 
Christian. Ira is a resident of one of the western states. Martha was 
a school teacher many years and married Mr. Howe, of Haverhill, Mas- 
sachusetts. Mr. Howe died several years since, and she there resides. 
The youngest sister, Mrs. Urania Mitchell, is also a resident of Haver- 
hill. 

There was another branch of the Moore family, whose members were 
quite numerous in town, and some of whom were prominent in its busi- 
ness affciirs. Ira Moore was notably so. He married a daughter of 
Colonel Bartlett Doe, resided in Freeport, Maine, for some years, and 
then removed to his native town, where he died about 1870. He was 
a man of strong mind and iron will, who allowed nothing to swerve 
him from his convictions of duty. He was true to his trusts and an 
honor to his town. 

LORD. 

There are and have been several families of this name, but the writer 
is unable to trace the connection. Ami R. Lord, who settled in what 
is known as " Little Hampton," in 1801, was born in Limerick. He 
married Mary Durgin, of Limerick, the same year that he took up his 
residence in Parsonsfield. He raised a numerous family, was thrice 
married, second to Drusilla Lord, of Freedom, and third to Mercy 
Whitten, of Cornish. He died May 1, 1864, aged eighty-six years. 
His children, by his first wife, were Arthur, Lois, Isaac, Ami, Simeon, 
Cyrus, Julia and Edmund ; by his second, Woodbury and Caroline ; by 
his third, Martha, Abby and a son. Besides these, there were several 
who died in infancy. 

Most of the members of the family are gone, all of the living save 
Abby, the youngest daughter, who is the wife of John Colby Foss, of 
this town, reside in Wisconsin, Kansas and California. The fifth son, 
Cyrus K., born June 10, 1811, has for more than fifty years been a resi- 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 347 

dent of La Crosse, Wisconsin, a lawyer of good repute, now retired 
from business. Woodbury is settled in California. Caroline in La 
Crosse, Wisconsin. Martha married Daniel Baker and settled in Kan- 
sas. I think no others are living. 

There is another branch of the family of Lords, of which George 
Lord was the first settler in town. It is said that Abram, Nathan and 
John Lord are the progenitors of all of the name, that they all moved 
from Ipswich to South Berwick. Of this there is no proof. George 
Lord, referred to above, was the son of Samuel and Lydia (Waling- 
ford) Lord, and was born October 19, 1764. He came to town about 
1799. He married Patience Hobbs, of Hampton, New Hampshire, and 
they had ten children, Samuel, Mary, Morris, Lydia, George W., Isaac, 
Sarah, Frederick, Louisa and Betsey. The eldest son, Samuel, was 
successfully engaged in milling and mercantile business during his long 
life. He was born December 4, 1789, and was thrice married, first to 
Nancy Neal, January 4, 1811. She died December 5, of the same 
year. He was next married to Lydia Neal, on March 24, 1812. She 
died February 1, 1834, leaving issue. He then married Eunice H. 
Knight, March 4, 1835, by whom he had a son, Edwin E., now a resi- 
dent on the homestead, and Carrie, who died in early womanhood. 
Mr. Lord died November 15, 1862, and Mrs. Lord, December 31, 1879. 
Mary, born February 4, 1792, married John L. Marston, of Effingham, 
and died February 14, 1881. Morris, born September 29, 1794, mar- 
ried Abigail Colcord, December 21, 1819, and resided in Lowell, Mas- 
sachusetts, and died September 25, 1849. Lydia died unmarried. 
G-eorge W., born November 3, 1799, married Sally Sweat, sister of 
Doctor Moses Sweat, May 23, 1825, and moved to Buxton, where he 
engaged in the lumber business, accumulating much property, and died 
April 4, 1864. His son, A. K. P. Lord, has continued in the same 
business till the present time. Isaac, born April 25, 1801, followed 
milling and farmyig, married Hannah Redman, October 26, 1826, 
resided on a portion of the homestead of his father, and died suddenly 
November 6, 1855. He left a family of four daughters and one son, all 
now living save the youngest daughter. They were Kate, Fannie, 
Sarah, Hannah and Leander. Kate married Mr. Nicholas Springer, of 
St. Louis, and has there resided for many years. She is a lady of great 



34^ HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

force of* character and much executive ability. I would be glad to 
afford more space, but can only quote briefly from the " History of 
Woman's Work in the Civil War," page 639. In relation to this lady, 
we find the following : 

" On the breaking out of the war, Mrs. C. R. Springer espoused with 
patriotic ardor the cause of her country in its struggle with the great 
slave-holding rebellion. To do this in St. Louis at that period, where 
wealth and fashion and church influence was so largely on the side of 
rebellion, and every social circle was more or less infected with treason, 
required a high degree of moral courage and heroism. From the first 
opening of the hospitals in St. Louis, in the autumn of 1861, Mrs. 
Springer became one of the most untiring, devoted and judicious 
visitors, and by her gracious manner and kind words of sympathy, and 
her religious consolations, she imparted to many a poor, sick and 
wounded soldier, courage and hopeful comfort. Besides her useful 
labors in the hospital, Mrs. Springer superintended the giving out and 
receiving of hospital garments, provided by the Medical Purveyor, to 
soldiers' wives. During the winter of 1862, one hundred and twenty- 
seven thousand were made. This work came under the charge of the 
organization called ' Ladies' Aid Society.' In all the deliberations of 
that society, Mrs. Springer's counsel had great weight. No one will be 
more gratefully remembered by soldiers and their families, to whom 
her kind words and untiring services came as healing balm in the hour 
of despondency, and those services were gratuitously rendered. Her 
reward will be found in the consciousness of having administered com- 
fort and sweet consolation to thousands of loyal, brave defenders of 
our country and liberty." Much might be written of her labor in 
various ways, but limits forbid. 

The next daughter Fannie married a Doctor Moore, of St. Louis. She 
is much devoted to music and has won distinction in this direction. 
The third daugliter Sarah married Mr. James Dittrick, a gentleman of 
much character and ability, who died a few weeks since, in October, 
1887. Mrs. Dittrick is a very superior lady, whose abilities and accom- 
plishments are not exceeded by any of the family. The youngest 
daughter Hannah now gone, was the wife of Mr. Wells, of Newton, 
Massachusetts. Leander, the son and brother, is in successful business 
in St. Louis. 



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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 349 

Another branch of the Lord family was represented early here by 
John Lord who came from Berwick, was born there in 1771. He had 
eight children. The eldest, Joseph, settled in Limerick and many of 
the name, now residents of Parsonsfield, belong to that family. 

Another branch settled here, of which Richard Lord was the earliest. 
He had children Mary, Betsey, Nancy, Isaac, James, Lydia and George. 
There are others whose ancestry I am unable to trace, but they have 
no descendants in town. Deacon John Lord, father of the late Caleb 
B. Lord, of Alfred, was a son of the above-named Richard. 

JOSEPH WEDGWOOD 

Was the son of John and Polly Wedgwood, and was born April 22, 1818. 
He was the youngest of eleven children, and the only survivor. He 
was educated at Parsonsfield Seminary and was a teacher of schools 
for many years. He has also been identified with the business interests 
of the town, having held various ofiQces. The most of his life he has 
devoted to agriculture, in which he has achieved success. 

In 1842, he married Jane, eldest daughter of John Bailey, of Par- 
sonsfield, and they have five children, all residents of Massachusetts. 
Anna married Harrison P. Bradstreet, of Danvers. John B. married 
Abbie Goodwin, of Scarboro. Anson married Lizzie Coffin, of Somer- 
ville, and William H. married Nellie Eberhard, of Holdenville, Massa- 
chusetts. In religious professions and preferences he is a Baptist, and 
in politics a republican from the birth of the party. He is a man 
worthy the confidence of his associates. 

JOHN BAILEY 

Was long a resident of the town, settling in the northwestern part, in 
the Doe neighborhood. He was twice married and had several sons 
and daughters. The eldest daughter is the wife of Joseph Wedgwood, 
above referred to. His eldest son, John, is a resident of Topsham, 
Massachusetts. Another daughter is the wife of Doctor William San- 
ders, formerly of Boston, and another son Henry, a resident of Oshkosh, 
Wisconsin, a lawyer of repute, who has been for a term of years in the 
office of judge. 
Mr. Bailey was one of the firm men of the town. A democrat of the 



350 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

old school, he was kept much in office in town and county, was repre- 
sentative in the years 1831 and '32, and county commissioner from 
1842 to '46, inclusive. He was independent and outspoken, percep- 
tions keen, discriminating in his judgments and wise in his counsel. 
The other members of the family, his brothers and his father, joined the 
Shakers, and have continued therewith. 

AVERY. 

On page 184, Mr. Smith says " Tradition gives to Jere Avery the 
honor of being the fifth pioneer. He came in 1776, settled on the 
western side of Ricker's Mountain, where he lived till 1806, after which 
I have no trace of the family." Tradition also says that Walter Avery, 
son of Jeremiah, was the first white child born in Parsonsfield. There 
is no doubt but at that early period it was so thought, for the brothers, 
John and Eben Moore, on the southeastern part of the town were sup- 
posed to be residents of Newfield, and Joseph Moore was born there as 
early as January, 1776, which gives him the prior claim. Jeremiah 
and Rachel Avery had eight children, six girls and two boys. Five of 
the children died of spotted fever in early life. It is probable that the 
two sons were among the number. One daughter Mary, born in 1777, 
lived to be ninety-six years old. In 1811, she had a son, John Averj^, 
who is now a resident of Milton, New Hampshire, and through him the 
name is brought down. John Avery had eight sons, seven of whom 
are now living. Two are married and reside in Strafford, Maine, 
Others are located elsewhere. One of his sons, Joseph Howard Avery^ 
an active, energetic business man, is located at Milton. He has a 
family of wife and two daughters, the eldest the wife of a Mr. Brown, 
of Tuftenbbro. The youngest is but six years of age. 

HARVEY PAGE 

Was born April 9, 1 803, was the fifth child of Dudley and Betsey Page, 
of Parsonsfield. He was for many years engaged in buying cattle for 
the Brighton market, in company with Captain Luther Sanborn. He 
was the earliest to interest himself in the improvement of stock, and 
brought to town the first Durham's that were here seen. He has been 
a very active business man, and now past eighty-four years of age he is 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 35 I 

able to enjoy the society of others, driving his own team short dis- 
tances. He married Miss Sarah Mason, of Bethel, quite late in life, and 
tliey have two children, a son and daughter. Mrs. Page died in 1887. 

DEVEEEUX. 

Richard Devereux was taxed here during the last six to ten years of 
the last century. He was probably the ancestor of those now in town. 

Thomas Devereux was born August 4, 1790, married July 31, 1818, 
to Phoebe Trueworthy, and died February 1, 1865. His wife died 
December 25, 1883, aged ninety-three years. They had six children. 

The eldest son, John^ was born February 6, 1820, married Eliza A. 
Patten, of Newport, in 1848, was engaged in moving pianoes and furni- 
ture in Boston for fifteen years, then returned to Parsonsfield, and has 
been engaged in the lumber and woolen business since. They have one 
son, Doctor F. G. Devereux, a sketch of whose life appears on page 
157. Mr. Devereux is an industrious man and has made life a success. 

The next brother, Jonathan Devereux^ is a resident of Brownfield. 
Has two sons, Willie and Frank. The other members of the family 
are not living. 

DAVID JOHNSON 

Came from Hampton and settled near East Parsonsfield about 1795. 
He was married in Hampton to Lydia Bachelder about 1790. They 
were both born in the year 1767. They had nine children. Sally, 
Ruth and James were born in Hampton, and Jonathan, David, Nathan- 
iel, John, Edmund and Lydia were born in Parsonsfield. The eldest 
was born December 6, 1791, and married William Frost, son of Simon 
Frost, and resided in Parsonsfield. Ruth, born November 13, 1792, 
married Thomas Dearborn, of Parsonsfield, and removed to Dixmont. 
James was born September 19, 1794. Jonathan, born May 16, 1796, 
married Mehitable Dearborn, daughter of Francis Dearborn, on August 
18, 1818, and they raised a large family of children ; the youngest, 
John Osborn, yet residing on the old homestead, and one of the elder 
daughters, Mary Ann, the wife of James Eastman, of Parsonsfield ; all 
the others have either died or left town. Of the next four sons I have 
no trace. Lydia, the youngest daughter, married John Goddard, son 



352 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

of Henry Goddard, of Portland. They resided for a time at East Par- 
sonsfield, afterward went to Bangor and Oi'ono, and later to Cape 
Elizabeth. 

JABEZ TOWLE 

Married a sister of David Johnson and came to town at the same time 
They had three sons, Jabez, James and David, and one daughter, who 
became the wife of Samuel Moulton. Jabez married Susan Wedg- 
wood, daughter of Jesse Wedgwood, and James married Nancy Holmes. 
The children of Jabez are all dead but one, and he has not for years 
resided in town. Several of the children of James are living in town. 
The eldest daughter is the wife of Joseph Wilson. One son, Marshall, 
resides on the homestead. The eldest sou, James, resides in Limerick, 
and the second son, Albion, in Newfield. The second daughter, Mrs. 
Lydia Day, and the youngest, Mrs. Alonzo Moulton, are also residents 
of town. Mr. Towle died some years since. Mrs. Towle is yet 
(November, 1887) living. 

WILLIAM K. DOE. 

From what is considered reliable information, the first Does in 
this country were Nicholas and Sampson Doe, who came from England 
and settled in Newmarket, New Hampshire. Nicholas was the ances- 
tor of the Parson sfield Does. He had a son, Nicholas, second, who 
also lived and died in Newmarket. His children were Nathaniel, who 
died in Newfield, Maine ; Joseph, who died in Newmarket ; Gideon, 
who came to Parsonsfield ; Nicholas, drowned in Newmarket, and John, 
who came to town with Gideon. 

Gideon was born in 1740, married Abigail Conner, of Newmarket, in 
1765, moved to Wolfborough, New Hampshire, and thence to Parsons- 
field in 1775, when there was not grass enough in that portion of the 
town to pasture a pair of geese, and they were obliged to carry them to 
Leavittstown, New Hampshire, now Effingham, to pasture. 

John was born September 9, 1748, married Elizabeth Ames, a sister 
of John and Nathaniel Ames, all of whom settled in town. As before 
stated, he came with his brother Gideon, and his children were three 
sons and five daughters. One son died in infancy. The other two, 
Bartlett and John, junior, settled in West Parsonsfield. John Doe, 
junior, married Abigail D. Giddings in 1800, and died in 1820. 




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REV. CHARLES A. HILTON. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 353 

William K. Doe is the youngest of their ten children, born, July 9, 
1820, married Pamelia J. Hanson, of Lowell, in 1848. Most of his 
active life has been spent in Lowell, Massachusetts, but in 1875 he 
came to his native town and purchased the homestead farm, where he 
has rebuilt and made substantial improvements. He was with the 
Massachusetts Sixth, in its memorable passage through Baltimore in 
1861. They have had two children, both dying in infancy. In politics 
he is a republican, and in religion a Universalist. He is a man of 
integrity and honor, and a worthy citizen. 

BEVEREND CHARLES A. HILTON 

Is of the third generation in town. Dudley Hilton came early, mar- 
ried Rhoda Bickford, had a family of six children, of whom George, 
the father of Charles A., was next the youngest. The following sketch 
is from the pen of Reverend T. H. Stacy, of Auburn, Maine. 

Reverend Charles Augustus Hilton, the youngest son of George Hil- 
ton and Abigail Ricker, was born July 22, 1845. The days of his 
boyhood passed without incident worthy of special mention. The only 
thing noticeable being his successful attempts to trouble and annoy his 
parents and teachers by all sorts of mischievous tricks and escapades. 
But the stern discipline of his father, combined with the kind nurture 
of an unusually devoted Christian mother, so far restrained him that 
nothing very bad resulted from his inclination to mischief. And 
though his mother died before he reached his ninth birthday, the influ- 
ence of her sainted life has had a power over his life that cannot be 
over-estimated. His educational advantages were almost exclusively 
those of the common district school. He attended " tuition " schools 
in the fall, some three terms, intending to take a college course. But 
the war of the Rebellion broke out, and poor health resulting from dis- 
ease contracted while in the service, together with limited financial 
resources, prevented the execution of his plans in this direction. 

He entered the ministry without any theological training, in the 
year 1868. His first pastorate was at Ross Corner, Maine, wliere he 
remained, one year. The next five years of his life were spent in Frank- 
fort, Will County, Illinois, teaching in the village school and preach- 
ing. Here, in 1872, he was married to Sarah Adelaide Carpenter, and 
23 



354 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

where were born to them two children. In 1874, he received and 
accepted a call to the pastorate of the Free Baptist church, at North 
Parma, New York, where he remained seven and one-half years, bap- 
tizing and receiving into the church more than one hundred members. 
Poor health compelled liim to accept a field where the demands upon 
him would not be so exacting, and in 1882 he settled at East Kendall, 
New York. Here he remained one year, and then came to his present 
(1887) location, Haverhill, Massachusetts. Mr. Hilton is a preacher 
of more than average acceptableness and effectiveness ; those who have 
sat under his preaching from the first of his ministry until the present, 
have been helped and pleased. His lack of a classical education early 
drove him to the study of the Bible and Bible expositions, of which he 
has been a faithful student; consequently, his sermons are marked, to 
a very large degree, by direct biblical teaching. His work is especially 
helpful, from the fact that he finds Jesus Christ everywhere in the 
Bible, and keeps Him, instead of himself or the sayings of men, con- 
stantly before his people. His deep interest in current literature and 
events enables him to meet his people with fresh thought constantly. 
Having a keen insight, a readiness to act, being thoroughly honest, and 
absolutely hating anything low or mean, he is a safe leader. Alto- 
gether, he ranks among the best men now in Free Baptist pulpits. 

COLONEL BARTLETT DOE, 

Son of Deacon John and Elizabeth (Ames) Doe, was born in Parsons- 
field, July 30, 1785, and was the sixth child of a family of eight. His 
father, Deacon John, and his uncle, Gideon Doe, were the two first 
white settlers in Parsonsfield.* His father, Deacon Jolni, settled in the 
western part of the town on the western slope of the Doe Mountain, 
and there the Colonel was born and made his home through life. It is 
the most picturesque part of the town, and brings under the eye a bold 
and most beautiful scenery. . To the west lies Green Mountain, the 
plain below garnished by the tiller's hand, the grove of pine", Province 
Pond, with its mirrored surface, the vast expanse of woods and fields 
which spread out in panoramic beauty and grandeur around his old 

*The writer of this sketch, John Bennett, Enquire, has fallen into this error, for reasons before stated, 
viz • Th:^t John and Eben Moore settled on the southeastern boundary, and for several years were sup- 
posed to be residents of Newlield. They came in 1774. 



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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELDi 355 

homestead, the loftj'- and magnificent mountains in the distance, con- 
spicuous among which are the rugged crest of Chocorua and the high 
summit of Mt. Washington, with lakes here and there, contribute to 
animate and diversify this enchanting landscape. 

Colonel Doe early interested himself in agricultural pursuits, and 
decided to engage in farming as an occupation, which pursuit he fol- 
lowed, becoming a successful farmer, as his well stored barns and gran- 
aries, filled with the products of his well-tilled and fertile acres, gave 
ample evidence. 

In 1810, he married Mary Sanborn, daughter of John Sanborn, of 
said Parsonsfield. The results of this union were twelve children : 
Martha A. and Mary S. (twin daughters), Alvah, Amzi, Hannah S., 
Bartlett, John S., Elizabeth A., Calvin (who died, aged, about two 
years), Calvin, second, Nancy H. and Charles F. 

Colonel Doe was a man of high moral standing, a courteous gentle- 
man of the old school, of a large, generous, loving nature, with every 
trait of genuine, robust and kindly humanity, and fully alive to every 
touch of true manliness. He believed in the development of every 
part of our nature, placing the foundation of excellence in deep reli- 
gious principle, but not overlooking or underrating the claims of social 
and mental culture. When a young man, he was enrolled in the 
militia, where, displaying great military capacity, he soon rose from 
the ranks to the several grades of . officers, and was finally commissioned', 
as Colonel of the Second Regiment of Maine Militia. He was at that 
time of tall and commanding form, of fine proportions, broad shoulders 
and full chest, his features were regular and handsome, his voice clear 
and resounding, and when clad in his uniform and mounted on his 
caparisoned steed made a most distinguished appearance. 

His family were all remarkable for their uprightness, integrity and 
natural talent and ability. Three of his sons, Bartlett, John- S. and 
Charles F., now residing in San Francisco, are remarkable financiers. 
They are extensively engaged in business, in which by their great natural 
ability, shrewd management and high business capacity, they have 
amassed immense fortunes. They are noted for their generosity and 
benevolence. In 1863, his wife died and he married Lydia Moulton, 
widow of Cutting Moulton and daughter of Colonel Wentworth Lord, 



356 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

of Parsonsfield, as his second wife. They lived together until February 
11, 1872, at which time he died as he had lived, honored and respected 
by all. 

MAJOR SAMUEL MERRILL. 

On the road leading from Middle Road Village to North Parsons- 
field, at the top of Merrill's Hill, was the old residence of Colonel 
Kinsman, and later that of Hardy L. and Salome (Kinsman)' Merrill, 
and where their son. Major Samuel Merrill, was born on the 2d day of 
September, 1815. He was the ninth and youngest child. He was a 
studious youth, obtaining his education at the common and high schools 
in his native town. On arriving at manhood he settled on the old 
homestead with his father, where he devoted the greater part of his life 
to agriculture. 

On the 21st day of June, 1842, he married Elizabeth R. Knapp^ 
daughter of Daniel Knapp, of Parsonsfield. Four children were the 
result of this union : Anna F., now the wife of John F. Moorfe, of New- 
iield ; Lizzie H., now the wife of Willie E. Merrill, of Newbury, Mas- 
isachusetts ; Frank L. and Ida M. 

Mr. Merrill was very quiet and unassuming in his manners, of excel- 
lent judgment, of unquestioned integrit}', having the fullest confidence 
of all. In politics a democrat ; always consistent and never wavering 
in his adherence and allegiance to the principles of democracy, in 
which he had perfect confidence and faith. He was elected to the 
-offices of clerk, selectman and treasurer for many successive years. 

On January 21, 1868, his wife died. On the 29th day of March, 
"1871, he married as a second wife Mrs. Rebecca M. Merrill, widow of 
Doctor Paul Merrill, who survived only a few months after their mar- 
riage. On the 6th day of June, 1873, he married as his third wife, 
Mrs. Sarah A. Neal, widow of Enoch Neal. 

While in the State Militia, he was elected Lieutenant and Captain, 
and later was commissioned as Major in the Second Regiment of Infan- 
try. He was an able financier, amassing an independent fortune. He 
made many improvements on the old homestead, where he erected a 
large and substantial dwelling, which he made pleasant and attractive. 
He was naturally of a serious disposition, but enjoyed liveliness and 






MAJ. SAMUEL MERRILL 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 357 

mirth in others. Toward his friends he was generous, and to his chil- 
dren indulgent. In his domestic relations his conduct was exemplary, 
and he cherished a genuine regard for morality and a deep inward love 
of truth and goodness, favoring all things that tended to human 
advancement. In early life he became interested in the subject of 
religion and joined the First Baptist church, of which he ever remained 
a prominent member. His piety was spontaneous, sincere and earnest. 
He died on the 20th day of March, 1886, and the old homestead is 
now occupied by two of his children, Frank L. and Ida M. 

JOHN MOORE. 

John Moore came from Scarborough to Parsonsfield in 1774, and settled 
on lot No. 18 in the first range ; an older brother, Eben, came with 
him and settled on No. 16. Both made clearings in the forest that 
year, in preparation for crops the next year, and returned to Scarborough 
for the winter. In 1775, John, having made arrangements for the care 
of his crops during his absence, enlisted with his brothers Abram and 
Isaac, for a year in the army of the Revolution. Abram and Isaac, at 
the expiration of enlistment, re-enlisted and served until killed at the 
battle of Monmouth. John returned to his land and built a log-house, 
in which he lived for several years, continuing and extending his clear- 
ings. Later, he built a frame house, and in 1787 married Anne Milli- 
ken, a woman of rare ability and great force of character. Fourteen 
children were born to them, ten of whom grew up to manhood and 
womanhood, and all settled in Maine. He was an industrious and 
thrifty farmer and raised good crops. His leading crop was Indian 
corn raised on burnt land as he made clearings, and this was his main 
reliance for money to pay for his land ; a crop of five hundred bushels 
raised in a single year, enabled him to purchase lot No. 17 in 1781. 
He purchased his land of Esquire Parsons, the proprietor, from time to 
time, as he acquired the means of payment. 

The following conveyances appear on record, viz.: October 6, 1779, 
Thomas Parsons to " John More, of Parsonstown, the westerly have of 
the lot of land situated in Parsonstown numbered eighteen in the first 
range," consideration, " one hundred bushels of corn." February 
2, 1781, Thomas Parsons to " John Moore, of Parsonstown, lot num- 



358 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

bered seventeen in the first range of lots in the township of Parsons- 
town," consideration, " ninety pounds." April 10, 1795, Thomas Par- 
sons to " John More, of Parsonsfield, the easterly half of the lot of land 
numbered eighteen in the first range," consideration, " fifteen pounds." 
It is a well-known fact that the line between Parsonstown and the 
plantation of Washington remained unsettled until after the incorpora- 
tion of the latter as Newfield, in 1791, the first range of lots being 
claimed by Newfield. Hence the names of John and Eben Moore first 
appear on Parsonsfield records in 1794, it being uncertain up to that 
time whether they were within the limits of Parsonsfield, although 
they had lived upon their farms since 1774, and were unquestionably 
the first settlers in town, antedating by some time the settlement of 
John and Gideon Doe, who it has been claimed were the first settlers. 
John Moore died in 1823, aged seventy-five ; his wife in 1844, aged 
seventy-seven years. His son John succeeded to the fiirm by purchase, 
paying fifteen hundred dollars, as required by his father, to his brothers 
and sisters, and having by exchange obtained a more eligible building 
site on the Newfield side of the line, built the present farm buildings 
thereon, which he occupied until he sold the farm in 1867 to John F., 
son of Ira, the present owner, and moved to Limerick, where he died 
in 1876, aged eighty-six. 

Of the children of the original John, Isaac and James always lived 
in Parsonsfield, Samuel in Leeds, Henry in Durham, Ira in Lisbon, 
Freeport and finally Parsonsfield, Joseph in Lisbon, Sarah (Mrs. James 
Thompson) and Jane (Mrs. Moses Ayer) in Newfield, and Mary Ann, 
the only survivor, now lives in Limerick at the age of eighty. The 
grandchildren are numerous and widely scattered over different states 
from Maine to California. L. S. M. 

CAPTAIN ALVAH DOE, 

Son of Colonel Bartlett and Mary (Sanborn) Doe, was born in Par- 
sonsfield, August 28, 1813, and- was the third child of a family of 
twelve. He was educated at the common schools and at Effingham 
Academy. His early years were passed on the homestead of his father, 
where he grew to manhood, surrounded by the refining influences of 
the home circle. He was of high moral culture, easy and agreeable 




M. yS^^^^c^ '^-iji^u^L^t 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 359 

manners, of pleasing social powers and prepossessing appearance, 
deservedly popular among his associates, and a general favorite among 
the masses. He had remarkable clearness of insight, the power of 
accurate observation and a keen, patient and discriminating judgment. 
In 1837, June 11, he married Martha Jane Leavitt, of Effingham, 
New Hampshire. Seven children were the issue of this marriage: 
Edward A., George L, Amzi, Augustus, Mellen, Frank P. and Charles W. 
In politics he was a democrat, and by his ability, shrewd, sagacious 
foresight and great popularity, soon ^became one of its acknowledged 
and trusted leaders. At the age of thirty-two, he was honored by an 
election to the Legislature, and served for the years 1845 and 1816. 
In 1863, he was a member of the state Senate. He held various town 
offices acceptably to the people, and with honor and credit to himself. 
While enrolled in the militia, he was elected as Captain of Company 
D., and later as Adjutant of Second Regiment of Infantry. He was 
one of the charter members of Charter Oak Lodge of Free and Accepted 
Masons, at Effingham, New Hampshire, and was greatly interested m 
all matters pertaining to the welfare and prosperity of the lodge, and 
was chosen as Master for four years. 

His wife died in 1870. In 1872, August 11, he married as his second 
wife, Susan E. Moulton, daughter of Cutting Moulton, of Parsonsfield, 
and daughter of his father's second wife. He devoted much of his life 
to agricultural pursuits at his home on the old Doe homestead. He was 
a successful and popular teacher in the public schools for many years. 
After a long and tedious Hlness, he expired on the 4th day of July, 1885. 

HAEDY LOEIN MERRILL, 

Son of Hardy and Abigail (Mudgett) Merrill, was born in Parsons- 
field, August 29, 1854. He attended school at North Parsonsfield Sem- 
inary, married, March 7, 1876, Miss Ida J. Emery, of this town, and is 
now a resident of East Parsonsfield. They have one son, Wilbur, born 
November 14, 1879. Mr. Merrill is of the fourth generation in town, 
in direct line from Hardy L. Merrill, who was early on th^ ground, 
taking the place where Colonel Jonathan Kinsman had for a few years 
resided. Mr. Merrill, though a young man, has already been quite 



360 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

active in the business affairs of the town, having held several offices of 
trust, and took the census for 1880. 

On January 2, 1882, he received a very severe injury to the spinal 
system by being a victim of the railroad disaster at Wells, Maine, from 
which he has never recovered, and which has thus far entirely debarred 
him from the pursuit of business, in which he was not only much 
interested but very successful. 

He is possessed of those traits of character which recommend him to 
the confidence and esteem of all, quiet and reserved, reticent and 
thoughtful, independent and persistent, he presses steadily onward, 
and accomplishes, without ostentation or display, that which, with 
many others, would be deemed difficult of achievement. He combines 
in his makeup the sturdy qualities of his ancestors in both of the fami- 
lies, the Merrills and the Mudgetts. He is a good financier, and an 
honored citizen and townsman. 

ASA B. PAESONS 

Was a man of imposing presence and agreeableness of manners, digni- 
fied in his demeanor, courtly and courteous. He was the son of Enoch 
Poor and Betsey (Burnham) Parsons, and great-grandson of Thomas 
Parsons, the proprietor of the town. He was born May 18, 1806, lived 
on the homestead with his father, in early life joined the society of 
Friends with the other members of the family, and on July 4, 1832, 
married Miss Lydia Merrill, of Cornish, purchased a farm adjoining the 
old homestead, and there lived, dying March 3, 1878, aged seventy-two 
years. Soon after his marriage, he severed his connection with the 
Friends and joined the Freewill Baptists, remaining a member of that 
body of believers during his life. He was a very successful farmer, 
devoting his attention closely to agriculture and matters pertaining 
thereto. He dealt quite largely in cattle, and always took much interest 
in, and was the possessor of extra cattle and horses. Mr. Parsons was a 
man of good judgment, correct in his deportment, a successful financier, 
an hospitable friend, a kind and obliging neighbor and an excellent 
citizen and townsman. His family consisted of six children, five of 
whom are yet living, four sons and one daughter. The eldest, Noah 
B., is a resident of Virginia City, Nevada. The second son is a resident 




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,„.^AlK"*"" 





^yCLL^yon 



^A 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 36 1 

of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The daughter is the wife of John Eastman, 
of Limerick, Maine. His third son, 

DAVID M. PARSONS, 
Is a resident of the town, occupying a portion of the parental home- 
stead, engaged successfully in agriculture. He is a man who is well 
informed, upright and conscientious, strict in his morals, fair in his 
dealings, generous in his friendships and modest and unassuming in his 
manners. He was born about 1840, and married Miss Almira, daughter 
of Reverend Samuel Pendexter, of Cornish, Maine. They have one 
child, a daughter, who is successfuly engaged in teaching. Mr. Par- 
sons was for several years one of the municipal officers of the town» 
and in that capacity served acceptably, seeking to perform his duties 
faithfully and well, without reference to applause or censure. 

His pleasant home is one of comfort and competency, and the 
"stranger within his gates" feels the assurance of a genuine welcome. 
Like his father, he indulges his fancy in cattle and horses, selecting 
favorite stock and bestowing thereon the best of care and treatment, 
and in the end reaping rewards therefor. On the other half of the 
homestead, the youngest brother, 

JOHN USHER PARSONS, 

resides with the aged mother. He is yet unmarried. He has been 
absent from the town a portion of the time since he attained his major- 
ity, being employed in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in milling business, 
and also in northern Minnesota in the lumber business, but at the 
solicitation of his father returned and made his home here. Mr. Par- 
sons is a man of strong convictions, just and charitable in his judg- 
ments, upright in his dealings, genuine in his professions, an honored 
friend, neighbor and townsman. He is modest and retiring, neither 
seeking or accepting positions of prominence in town. He is devoted 
now to agricultural pursuits, keeps his acres under good cultivation 
and makes life a success. 



362 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

WEEKS. 

It is asserted on good authority that the progenitors of the Weekses 
in this country were two brothers, one of whom was named Leonard 
and the other Samuel, who came here from England in 1660, and 
located, one at Greenland, New Hampshire, and the other at Martha's 
Vineyard, Massachusetts. 

The first of the name to settle in this town was 

SAMUEL WEEKS, 

Great-grandson of Leonard, born in Greenland, New Hampshire, 
November, 21, 1746. He learned the trade of carpenter, went to Strat- 
ham, and there married Merc}^ Rundlet, removed from there to Newmar- 
ket, thence in 1772 he moved to Gilmanton, where he united with the 
Baptist church. In May, 1777, he was licensed to preach, and on June 
15, 1780, he was ordained, and in 1783 he came to Parsonsfield, then 
Parsonstown, first occupying the log house which the first settler in 
this part of the town, Samuel Lougee, built, and two years later erect- 
ing the house in which he ever after lived. For further information 
concerning him see page 216. 

He had a family of nine sons and three daughters, viz. : Noah, Eliph- 
alet, James, John, Mary, Susanna, Samuel, Ichabod, Matthias, Levi, 
Benjamin and Mercy. His two sons, Noah and James, were the first 
merchants at East Parsonsfield, if not in the town. James died at the 
age of twenty-three years. Noah married and resided at East Parsons- 
field, had four sons and two daughters. He was long a successful 
merchant and an upright citizen, taking much interest in all moral and 
religious reforms. He was representative to the Legislature in 1826 
and 1827. 

Eliphalet married, settled at East Parsonsfield and had six sons and 
one daughter. Four of the sons left town early. Samuel died at East 
Parsonsfield in 1867, and John, the father of Doctors S. H. Weeks, of 
Portland, and Albion Weeks, of Providence, Rhode Island, after the 
birth of his children, removed to Oxford County, Maine, and there 
died. John and Matthias moved to Cornish, Ichabod died in child- 
hood and Levi settled at East Parsonsfield, where his descendants yet 
reside. Benjamin, the ninth son of Samuel also settled in town near 




CUey- 






HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 363 

the old homestead, and had a family of nine children, only two of 
whom are now living. 

The descendants of Reverend Samuel Weeks are very numerous, 
and have always been counted among the best citizens of the town. 
Many of them have taken high rank in their various callings, trades and 
professions. 

MAJOR JAMES W. WEEKS, 

Son of Noah, deserves especial mention. He married Sarah Frye, of 
Limerick, and had eight children. He devoted his time to agriculture 
and mercantile pursuits, was a man of strict integrity, exemplary in his 
deportment and dignified in his demeanor. He was among the fore- 
most to advocate the cause of temperance in this section, detested 
slavery, and earnestly advocated education and progress. He was for 
three successive years, from 1833, elected as representative to the 
Legislature, and served his town faithfully in important positions. Li 
1853, he removed to Massachusetts and thence to Michigan, where he 
died in 1875, aged about seventy-six years. Two of his daughters 
became the wives of Isaac Brackett, who was in company with J. W. 
Weeks in mercantile business at East Parsonsfield for several years. 

SETH CHELLIS, 

Son of Ezekiel and Betsey (Kennison) Chellis, was born in Newfield, 
Maine, March 19, 1820. At the age of fourteen years he came to Par- 
sonsfield and lived in the family of Elisha Piper, junior, until he was 
twenty-one, when he went to Massachusetts and labored at farming 
and driving an ice-cart for twelve years, marrying Miss Susan Williams 
in 1842. A few years later, Mrs. Chellis died, and he again married 
Miss Belinda, daughter of Mark Wood, of Newfield, and two children 
were the result of this union, one dying in early childhood, and the 
other, a son, Daniel, now residing with his father. Mrs. Chellis died, 
and Mr. Chellis married, in 1857, Mrs. Moses Weeks, and they had one 
daughter Susie, who is the wife of George Garvin, of Shapleigh. This 
wife died, and in 1865 Mr. Chellis married Miss Fannie C. Davis, of 
Parsonsfield, and they have a son, Seth D., now nineteen years of age, 
who is engaged in teaching. 



364 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Mr. Chellis is a man of sterling worth, upright, industrious and fru- 
gal, owns one of the largest and most productive farms in town, and 
makes the business of agriculture a success. His character is above 
reproach, and no one in a wide circle is more fully trusted. He and 
his wife are members of the Freewill Baptist church, not because of 
their professions alone, but because of their consistent Christian lives. 
Their home is one of comfort and hospitality, of peace and plenteous 
prosperity, and their friendships are spontaneous and genuine. 

We have thus far traced some of the important families who have 
been residents of the town. Many more will receive attention in Part 
Four of this history, while many more of equal merit, who have been 
or whose descendants are, residents of the town, are omitted for the 
reason that diligent search and inquiry have failed to yield the neces- 
sary information and receive the desired response. 



4i 




^;j,^2>^,^,,--^^ -^^ 



TH£ ORDER FOR LiTH . RECEIVED 
AFTER THE ENTIRE WORK WA^ IN PRinT. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

PART IV. 

GENEALOGIES. 

AMES. 

The first settler In Parsonsfleld by the name of Ames was John, b. in 1746, in New- 
market, N. H. ; m. Elizabeth Neal, of Gilmanton, N. II., in 1770; came to Parsonsfleld 
in 17S6; d. June 21, 1824; wife d. Feb. 18, 1827. They had six children, viz: John, 
b. 1773; settled in Tam worth, N. H. Samuel, b. 1775; settled in Wakefield, N. H. 
Betsey, b, 1777. Marston, b. 1779. Catherine, b. 1782. Daniel, b. 178(3. Marston and 
Daniel settled in town, near "Province Pond." Daniel died without issue. Marston 
m. Mary Manning, of Ossipee, N. H.. in 1809; d. Sept. 14, 1851 ; wife d. Dec. 12. 18i!6. 
Their children were: Hannah, b. May 30, 1810; m. Titcomb Wentworth, of Newfield; 
bad three children, their only son, John T. Wentworth, resides on the Ames' home- 
stead in town; she died in 1885. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 22, 1812. Lydia, b. Dec. 15, 1813; 
m. John Sutton, of Parsonsfield, now a resident of Illinois; no issue. John M.. b. April 
10, 1816; d. April 10, 1885; unmarried. Marston, b. Feb. 19, 1818; unmarried; a resi- 
dent of Illinois. Daniel J., b. June 1, 1822; m. Miss Abby Fogg; resides in Illinois; 

has two children. Zimri Fisher, b. July 10, 1824; married ' '; resides in La 

Salle Co., 111.; has three children. Martha, b. Feb. 13, 1829; m. John Towne; resides 
in Parsonsfield; has one daughter, 

Nathaniel Ames, a brother of John, came to Parsonsfield about 1786, had a son 
Phineas, and a daughter who married Moulton Smart. Phineas had a son John, who 
married Abby Picker, daughter of John Kicker; they had one child, none residing in 
town. The only other member of this original Ames family was a daughter, who 
became the wife of John Doe, of Parsonsfield. 

BANKS. 

(See Banks family, page 326, Paft 111.) 

Jacob Banks, son of Moses and Phebe Banks, was the first settler; b. Feb. 27, 1775, 

in Scarboro, Me.; m. Reliance Edgcomb, Oct. 5, 1805; d. March 28, 1861; wife died 

Sept. 10, 1832; had seven children: Mary, b. July 9, 1806; m. Thomas Churchill, 

March 14, 1830; now living. Otis, b. March 14, 1808; m. ; Nov, 23, 1872, 

Phebe C, b. Sept. 25, 1811; d. Jan. 30, 1874. Sally E., b. June 30, 1814; m. David Pills- 
bury, jr., Dec. 10, 183.5. Israel, b. March 22, 1816; m., Ist, Martha A. Pillsbury; had 
one daughter, b. Oct. 23, 1841, d. Nov. 30, 1853; Mrs. Banks d. Dec. 18, 1813; 2d wife, 
Elvira Moulton, m. June 26, 1849; have four children: Martha A„ b. May 21, 1854, 
m. Charles T. Wentworth; Lydia W., b. June 21, 1856, m. Stanton L Hanson, April 7, 
1880; Frank O., b. April 8, 1860, and Olife^L., b. Sept. 22, 1869. Eliza W., b. July 3, 
1820; m. Chase Moulton, July 17, 1842. Lydia E., b. Nov, 10, 1822; m. Elisha Wad- 
leigh, June 6, 1844; d. Oct. 26, 1866. 



366 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

BLAZO. 

This family descended from one Amos Blazo, who came from Bordeaux, France, in 
1735, and settltd in Greenland, N. H. His son Amos settled in Parsonsfleld, b. Dec. 

3, 1788, moved to town in 1778, and settled in North Parsonsfleld. Farmer m. 

Joauna Libby in 1760; d. Feb. 23, 1821 ; wife died Aug. 30, 1810. Their children were : 

Catherine, b. Aug. 11. 17G2. Danielf b. Sept. 1764. Michance. b. . Joseph, b. 

June 16, 1768. Ebenezer, b. Sept 1, 1770. John, b. Dec. 4, 1776; all born in Rye, N". H. 
Jonathan, b. July, 1775. William, b. March 1, 1777, in Epsom, N. H. Polly, b. in Par- 
sonsfleld, April 2, 1779; d. October 10, 1784. The sons all settled in Parsonsfleld, at 
what is known as Blazo's Corner. Catherine m. Jonathan Towle; d. Dec. 16, 1809 
Daniel m. Abigail Chapman in 1796; d. Jan. 19, 1802; had three children: Robert 
Tibbetts, b. Aug. 11, 1797; John, b. Nov. 23, 1798, and Henry, b. 1800. Joseph m. 
Susan Paine; d. Jan., 1827. Ebenezer m. Nancy Towle; d. Sept. 10, 1855. John died 
Nov. 4, 1821. Jonathan ra. Jane Deshon, 1799; d. June, 1817. William m. Mehitable 
Wedgwood, Dec. 1, 1808; d. Aug. 2.5, 1830. Robert Tibbetts Blazo, lawyer, son of 
Daniel, m. Mary Freeman, Dec. 24, 18.35; has four children: Daniel Otis, lawyer and 
farmer, lives at North Parsonsfleld; m. Emily Perkins; have had flve children, two 
living, Mildred and Grace. Susan C, m. John G. Leavitt, and they have one son, 
Robert Blazo Leavitt, now at Cambridge University, Mass. Charles, physician (see 
page 156). Emily m. Hiram H. Brown, a lawyer, residing in Lowell, Mass. They 
have one daughter. 

John Blazo, second son of Daniel Blazo, married Nancy Towle May 1,1825; died 
Dec. 1, 1878; wife died Jan. 11, 1846. They had seven children: Mary, Nancy, John, 
Lorenzo, Mariah, James H. and Enoch W. Mary was born March 3, 1826, died Sept. 

25, 1876; Nancy, b. June 19, 1827, d. Jan, 11, 1846; John, b. April 8, 1831, m. , 

resides in Parsonsfleld; Mariah, b. Feb 9, 1836; Lorenzo, b. June 9, 1837; Enoch W., 
b. Nov. 30, 1839, d. Aug 30, 1840; James H.. b. June 16, 1844, m. Abby Fogg, resides on 
homestead. 

BOOTHBY. 

Brice Boothby came to this country from Scotland and settled in Scarborough, and 
from him all of the name have descended. Joseph Boothby settled in this town. His 
parents' names were Brice and Mariam Boothby. He was born in 1781 in Buxton, and 
settled on the Middle Road, so called, in 1818; was by occupation a farmer. In 1810, he 
married Hannah Boothby, and died in 1841. Mrs. Boothby died in 1874. They had 
ten children : Marriam, b. 1811; m. Samuel Lord, and settled in New Hampshire. 
David, b. 1812; m. Hannah Boothby in 1840; settled in Baldwin. Joseph, b. 1815; m, 
Salome Staples 1845; resides in Cornish. Jane, b. 1817;m. Jonathan Morrison ; had 
two children; d. 1864. Hannah, b. 1819; m. and settled in Scarborough. Benjamin 
R., b. 1821 ; m. Ethlinda Staples 1847; settled in Limerick; d. 1885. Samuel, b. 1826; 
resides in Cornish; m. flrst, Rebecca Moulton in 1851; had two sons, Silas and Jos- 
eph. Silas is married and resides on the original homestead of Joseph Boothby. 
Joseph is a resident of Florida. Samuel m. second, Mrs. Severance of Cornish, and 
resides in said town. John, b. 1828: is one of the most successful farmers of Par- 
sonsfleld ;m. Sarah Moulton 1854; has one son. Achsah, b. 1833; m. Lafayette Davis. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 367 

of Newfield in 1854. Sarah, b. 1835; m. Charles M. Burbank in 1854, and resides in 
Boston. The Boothbys are very industrious, frugal people, intelligent, upright citi- 
zens, and good financiers. For the most part they are devoted to agricultural pursuits. 



There ai-e several families by the name of Brown who have been residents of the 
town, between whom we are unable to trace any connection. 

Simon Brown came from Hampton, New Hampshire, in 1801. He was born Jan. 22, 
1775; ra. Oct., 1800, Sarah Speed; d. Oct. 31, 1852; wife died March 16, 1857. They 
had four children: Simon, Abraham, Harriet and Samuel. Simon, b. Oct. 2, 1802 (see 
page 277). Abraham, born March 10, 180(3: died July 9, 1827. Samuel, b. Sept. 13, 
1815; m. Maranda Hill; had three children: Simon, b. May 7, 1847; Charles, b. 
June 19, 18-19, and Mary A., b. Oct. 1, 1856. Mr. Brown died Nov. 27, 1886. 

Then there was a Luther Brown, who came from Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1806, and 
settled in the northeast part of the town. He was born in 1756, and married Elizabeth 
Peabody of Salem in 1786; died 1850. They had four children: Thomas, b. 1789; ra. 
Esther Lane, and moved to Gorham. Sally, b. 1791; m. Joseph Chick, of Parsons- 
field Ephraim, b. 1793. Nancy, b. 1796; ra. Dean Sawyer, and here settled. Ephra- 
im married Hannah Hart, daughter of the noted ''Master" Hart, and they reared a 
family of twelve children: Jane B., Ivory, Catherine G., Belinda H., Hannah C, 
Horace T., Mary W., Susan G., James H., Lydia A., Luther and Ruth A. Jane, b. 
1817: m. Benjamin Simpson, of Bridgton; d. 1884. Ivory, b. 1819; ra. Jane Hart. 
Catharine G., b. 1821; m. Isaac F. Quinby, of Saccarappa. Belinda H., b. 1822; m. 
Thomas McLellan, of Meriden, Conn. Hannah C, b. 1824; m. John Brown, of Cor- 
nish; d. 1886. Horace T., b. 1826; m. Margaret A. Babb, of Saccarappa; d. 1863, at 
Fort St. Philip, New Orleans; was a member of the Thirteenth Maine Regiment 
Mary VV., b. 1828; m. Thomas C. Howe, of Westfield, Mass. Susan G., b. 18:30; m; 
William Baker, of Meriden, Conn. James H., b 1833; m. Ellen M. Carter, of Limer- 
ick, Me. Lydia A., b. 1834; m. Charles H. Eastman, of Parsonsfleld. Luther, b. 1837; 
d. in infancy. Ruth A., b. 1838; ra. Horace Manwarring, N. Y. 

Children of James H. and Ellen (Carter) Brown: — Herbert Stillman, b. Jan. 1, 1857; 
m. 1884. Alice Estelle, b. June 1,1859. Ernest Elmer, b. Nov. 21, 1861; m. 1883. 
Bertha Ellen, b. April 1, 1864; m. 1885. Fannie M. C, b. July, 1867. Clarence J., b. 
Nov, 1809. Millies., b. 1872. Ethel, b. Sept., 1876. 

BUKBA.NK. 

Caleb Burbank was a blacksmith and farmer, and settled above Middle Road Vil- 
lage. He was born November 6,1771; married Sarah Littlefield, and their children 

were: Esther, b. August 13, 1795; m. Deacon John Lord, of Parsonsfield; d. ; 

had five children: Caleb, Richard, Henry, Lydia and Adaline. Hannah, b. March 24, 

1799; m. Captain Joseph Merrill, of Parsonsfleld; d. ; had four children: D. W. 

Clark and Hardy — twins, Josephine and John B. Samuel L., b. Aug. 11, 1800; set- 
tled in Newport. Sarah A., b. Sept. 13, 1803; m. Joseph I^ord, of Newport; d. Jan. 
15, 182.5. Mary, b. Feb. 9, 1805; m. Elisha Wadleigh jr., of Parsonsfield; had four 
children: Caleb, Elisha S., Sally and Lemuel, and died May 24, 1879. Olive O., b. 



368 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

July 10, 1807; ra. Lemuel Miller, of Kennebunk; had three daughters; d. April 7, 
1SS6, Lydia A.,b March 24, 1810; m 1st, Joseph Lord of Parsonsfield ; 2d, Jeremiah 
Leavitt, of Effingham, and 3d, Daniel Elliot, of Parsonsfield; d. Aug, 26, 1878. Caleb 
B., b. Nov. 27, 1812; d. March 19, 1814. Josephine, b. March 28, 1815; d. Feb. 19, 1816. 

BURKHAM. 

It is asserted on good authority that the first settler in this country by the name of 
Burnham was one Thomas, who came from England and settled in Ipswich, Mass. 
From him descended Paul Burnham, of the third generation, who settled here in 1795. 
He was born in 1760, in Lee, N. II., and man-ied first, Sally Weymouth, and second, 
Comfort Pease. He died June 2, 1832. By his first wife he had eight children, viz. : 
Betsey, Abigail, Asa, Noah, Sally, Anna, Polly and Susannah, and by his second wife, 
seven, viz. : Nancy A., Mary, John, Julia A., Comfort M., Joseph P. and Susan. Bet- 
sey, b. March 5, 1784; m. Enoch P. Parsons in 1800; d. March 2, 1870. Abigail, b. 

Nov. 24, 1785; m. William Morris, of Scarboro; d. . Asa, b. Dec. 13, 1787; m. 

Lydia Parsons; settled in Parsonsfield and moved to Winslow, Me. He was a teahcer 
and farmer; had four children. Noah, b. Jan. 24, 1790; m. Martha Hilton; settled in 
Parsonsfield; had nine children; d. Jan., 1865. Sally, b. March 2, 1792; d. Nov. 26, 
1802. Anna, b. April 13, 1794; d. April 13, 1803. Polly, b. Oct. 14, 1795; d. Nov. 24, 1799. 
Susannah, b. Aug. 4, 1799; d. Nov. 2, 1802. Nancy A., b. Nov. 3, 1803; m. Moses 

Dannells, of Newfield; d. . Mary, b. March 31, 1805; m. Cyrus Brown, of Baldwin, 

Me. John, b. Nov. 29, 1806; m. 1st, Lydia Burbank; had five children, Joseph) 
Rhoda, Thatcher W., Melissa and John U.; m. 2d, Sally Adams, of Limerick; d. 
Sept. 26, 1871. Julia A., b. Feb. 16, 1809; m. Charles Brown, and is now living in Min- 
neapolis, Minn. Comfort M., b. Nov. 23, 1813; d. . Joseph P., b. Jan. 5, 1816; 

d. . Susan, b. August 31, 1820; m. Lafayette Davis, of Newfield; d. . 

Children of Noah and Martha (Hilton) Burnham : — Rhoda H., b. Sept. 21, 1813; d. 
Feb. 3, 1833. Caroline W., b. May 11, 1816; d May 5, 1840. George 0.,b. Sept. 4, 1818; 
m. Jane Harper and settled in Biddeford. James E., b. Dec. 18, 1820; m. Susan 
Perry, of Parsonsfield, and resides on the home place; is a successful farmer and has 
two sons, Earnest L., b. April 12, 1865, and Everett C, b. June 16, 1867. N. Augustus, 
b. March 20, 1823; d. Nov. 25, 1843. Martha A., b. Aug. 17, 1825; m. Ira Bickford, of 
Boston. J. Lorenzo, b. March 6, 1828; merchant in Nashville, Tennessee. Emeline 
A., b. July 18, 1830; m. Dr. Charles Lougee and settled in Scarborough; d. May 21, 
1845. Charles S , b. Aug. 7, 18.32; died Dec. 13, 1832. 

Children of Asa and Lydia (Parsons) Burnham: — Lydia, Asa, Usher, Thomas R. 
^Children of John and Lydia (Burbank) Burnham : — Joseph, b. Aug. 12, 1833. 
Rhoda, b. July 5, 1835; m. 1st, William Wilmouth, Dec. 4, 1856; m. 2d, C. B. Green, 
June, 1886. Thatcher W., b. March 29, 1837; m. Dec. 6, 1863, Deborah Hayes; 
occupies the place where Major Paul Burnham built in 1799. It is the same house, 
somewhat remodeled. Mr. Burnham is a farmer, interested in stock raising and 
horse breeding. He was a member of the Twenty seventh Regiment Maine Volun- 
teers, has devoted much time to music, of which he is very fond, and in which he is 
proficient. They had one little daughter, b. Jan. 1865; d. May, 1868. Melissa S., b. , 
Feb. 14, 1839; m. Dr. E. F. Severance, of Limerick. John U., b. Nov. 15, 1842; m. 
Abby'Moulton and settled in Djver, N. H. ; dealer in meats. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 369 

BUZZELL. 
(See page 2180 
Rev. Jobn Buzzell, son of William and Anna Buzzell, was born in Barrington, N. H., 
Sept. 16, 1767; married Anna Buzzell, and moved to Parsonsfield in April 1798. His 
wife died in 1835, and he again married, dying on March 29, 1863. He was a man 
devoted to his calling, and an honor to the town of his adoption. Although by his 
influence he did much to mold the political as well as religious views of the citizens 
of the town, yet he did not desire to hold office. He was, however, for a time, town 
clerk, and was chosen as delegate to the convention which met in 1818 at Brunswick> 
to take action relative to a separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts, 
and served in that capacity; yet, when upon the establishment of the State government 
he was chosen to represent Parsonsfield in the first Legislature, he declined to 
serve, asserting that he had a higher office to fill and a greater duty to perform, that 
of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, and therefore another town-meeting was called, 
and Eufus Mclntire was chosen in his stead. His family consisted of eleven children : 
Mary.b. May 10, 1792; ra. Gilman Lougee; d. Sept., 1876. Nancy, b. ; m. Benja- 
min McKinney. Luke, b. ; m. Mercy Mudgett. JohnD., b. 1798 (see page 137). 

Alvah, b. April 4, 1800; d. in infancy. Aaron, b. March 16, 1802; m. Hannah Leigh- 
ton. William B. b. Sept. 25, 1804; m. Susan Sanborn. Alvah, b. April 15, 1807; m. 
Mary A. Cilley. Clarinda, b. March 4, 1809; ra. Isaac N. Sanborn. James M., b. Nov. 
4, 1812; m. Rebecca Hobson (see page 145). Martha, b. May, 1816; m. Sewall Hobson. 

CAETLAKD. 

John Cartland, born in Scotland, came to America early in the eighteenth century, 
and settled in what was then Dover, now Durham, N. H. A grandson of his, named 
Pelatiah Cartland, born Dec. 14. 1746, in Lee, N. H.,the son of Joseph and Lydia 
(Allen) Cartland, came to Parsonsfield in 1798 and settled in what is now known as 
the Cartland neighborhood, near East Parsonsfield. He was married in 1777 to Anna 
Hanson, and died May 1, 1830. His wife died April 10, 1849. Their children were 
Charles, Abigail and Silas. Charles* (Pelatiah,^ Joseph,^ Johni), b. March 27, 1778, in 
Lee, N. H.; m. Mariam Robinson; settled in Parsonsfield; had ten children, viz.: 
Content, Anna, Joseph, John, Stephen, Charles, Cyrus, Isaiah, Lydia, Abbie, all born 
between 1815 and 1834. Charles Cartland died March 20, 1839. Silas Cartland, brother 
of Charles, b. March 19, 1798; m. Anna Brackett; had seven children, viz.: Asa, John 
B., James, Silas H., Elizabeth, Anna H. and Joseph D. Only three are living, viz. : John 
B., James and Silas H. Most of the children of these two families joined the society 
of Friends, and most settled for a time in town. Abigail, the daughter of Pelatiah, 
married Benjamin Daltou (see page 330). 

CHUBCHILIi. 

John Churchill was a resident of Plymouth, Mass., and his name enrolled among 
those capable of bearing arms as early as 1643. In 1644, he married Hannah Pontus. 
They had a son Joseph, who on June 3, 1672, married Sarah Hicks. In turn, their 
son Barnabas, b. July 6, 1686, m. Lydia Harlow, Feb. 14, 1714. Their son Thomas, b. 
in Plymouth, April 30, 1730, m. Mary Ewer, daughter of Seth Ewer, of Barnstable, 
24 



370 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Mass. ; moved to Newmarket, N. H. Ichabod Churchill, the first settler of the name 
in town, was the son of said Thomas, born in Newmarket, June 21, 1764, and married 
Elizabeth Doe; moved to Parsonsfield in 1797 and settled on* the farm ever since 
retained in the name, now the property of his grandson, Nathaniel H. Churchill. He 
was by occupation a farmer and shoe-maker. His wife Elizabeth died Nov 23, 1809, 
and he married Leah Allen, Oct. 27, 1810, who died Sept. 3, 1858. He died Sept. 1.5, 
185.5. By his first wife he had six children, viz.: Nicholas, b. June 3, 1790; lived on 
the homestead ; unmarried. Betsey, b. March 27, 1793 ; unmarried; lived in Sandwich, 
N. H. ; d. March 30, 1877. John.b. Sept. 22, 1795; moved to Sandwich; d. Oct. .5, 1873 
unmarried. Thomas, b. Jan. 20, 1798, remained on homestead; m. Mary Banks 
March 14, 1830; had eight children, viz.: Thomas S., Otis B., John C, Reliance 
Nathaniel H., Elizabeth, Joseph and Lydia, all living save Elizabeth and Joseph. Mr 
Churchill died Oct. 16, 1878. Mrs. Churchill is yet living with her son, Nathaniel H 
Mary, b. Jan. 21, 1801 ; m. Robinson Blaisdell, of Madison ; d. May 17, 1865. Nancy, b 
Oct. 8, 1803; m. Greenlief Smith, of Cornish; d. March 2, 1877. Thomas S., eldest 
son of Thomas and Mary, b. May 6, 1831; m. Mary A. Dixon; had three children, 
only one now living, "William D. D. Churchill, of Cornish, who married Mabel, only 
daughter of Dr. Moses E. Sweat. Otis B., second son of Thomas and Mary, b. Nov. 
5, 1832; m. Susan E. Ferrin, of Freedom, N. H., June 2, 1861, and they have had three 
children: Wilbur F., b. April 24, lf^> d. June 19, 1862; Charlie C, b. June 2, 1863, 
and Sarah M., b. June 14, 1865. Mr. O. B. Churchill is a successful farmer of Parsons- 
field. John C, third son of Thomas and Mary, b. Dec. 11, 1843; m. Annie Burk, of 
Boston, Oct 18, 1S69; resides in Freedom, N. H. and has four children. Nathaniel H. 
resides on the homestead; b. May 8, 1839; m. Sophia Edgar, of New York, Jan. 7? 
1885. The daughter. Reliance, mai-ried Nehemiah Libby, of Parsonsfield, and Lydia 
married John W. Colcord, of Cornish, Maine. 

COLCORD. 

Gideon and Edward Colcord came from England some time about 1700, and settled 
in Newmarket, N. H. All the Colcords in Parsonsfield and the surrounding towns are 
descended from Edward. Edward's sons were also named Gideon and Edward, and 
both settled in Newmarket. Gideon, the older, was the father of six sons, one of 
whom, Jesse, was the father of Capt. David Colcord, late of Porter. Edward jr., who 
died before the Revolution at fifty years of age, was the father of nve sons and one 
daughter, viz: Gideon, Nathaniel, Josiah, Joab, Jeremiah, Benjamin and Eunice. Of 
these, Josiah and Joab settled in Parsonsfield, on the estates occupied until recently 
by their descendants, not far from the New Hampshire line. Jeremiah also died in 
Parsonsfield, and is buried near his brother Josiah. From Josiah and Joab have 
sprung all the Colcords of Parsonsfield, and their names are among the original mem- 
bers of the first town-meeting called to organize the town. The genealogy of the 
family of Josiah, the older of these two brothers, is as follows: Josiah Colcord, who 
was born April 10, 1755, and died April 5, 1837, married Mary Shepard about 1833. 
She was born Aug. 12, 1762, and died Aug. 1, 1838. The children from this mar- 
riage were two sons and five daughters, viz.: Rachel, b. May 22, 1785; death date 
unknown. Gideon, b. May 25, 1787; d. April 11, 1863. Comfort, b. April 23, 1789; d. 



/ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 37 1 

Oct. 12, 1864. Nancy, b. Oct. 27, 1791; d. Sept. 11, 1866. John S.,b. Dec. 7, 1795; d 
March 31, 1885. Abby. b. June 20, 1800; d. Dec, 1868. Mercy S., b. July 29, 1803; d. 
Dec. 28, 1831. Mary, b. March 26, 1805 ; d. March 5, 1845. Of the above cliildren. Cora- 
fort, Nancy, John, Mercy and Mary died without issue; Gideon and Rachel settled in 
Parsonsfield ; Abby, in Lowell, Mass. Gideon Colcord married Comfort Doe, June 10, 
1809. She was born Aug. 10, 1791, and died Oct. 1, 1834. Their children were; Eliza- 
beth D., b. June 20, 1811; living in 1885. Rufus, b. June 20, 1813; d. April 9, 1884. 
Josiah H., b. July 6, 1817; d. Sept. 14, 1852. Climena E., b. April 13, 1820; still living. 
Mercy S., b. May 23, 1825; d. Jan. 21, 1869. Clara L., b. April 27, 1826; still living. 
John D., b. July 21, 1829; d. Aug. 20, 185.3. Of these children, Elizabeth, Climena, 
Mercy and John leave no issue. The children of the others are as follows: Rufus 
Colcord married Roxanna Wentworth, who was born June 7, 1822. Their children 
are: Henry W., b. Nov. 23, 1844. Edward J., b. July 28, 1849. Rufus Judson, b. 
Oct. 4, 1851. Clara L., m. Rev. Ephraim A. Edwards, late of Beverly, Mass. Their 
children are: Justin, Charles, Frank, George and Benjamin. Josiah H. left one 
daughter, Clara, born 1849. Rachel Colcord, the sister of Gideon, married Stephen 
Swett, formerly of Parsonsfield, and they settled in this town. Their children were 
eight in number, viz. : Mary. Alice, Meribah, Mercy, Asa, John, Stephen and Josiah. 
The dates of these children are not at hand. Of these, Josiah was the father of Emily 
Swett, so long a teacher of Parsonsfield. Abby, the other sister of Gideon who mar- 
ried, man-ied Morris Lord, of Parsonsfield. Their children were: George C, still a 
resident of Parsonsfield, Josiah C, Augustus, Hester, Randolph and Charles. 

The family of Joab Colcord, the brother of Josiah, and the Joab Colcord whose 
name appears among the founders of Parsonsfield, is as follows: Joab Colcord (the 
dates of his birth and death are not known; nor his wife's maiden name) left four 
sons, viz. : Harvey, Joab, Josiah and Charles. Of these, Joab and Charles settled 
in Parsonsfield, near the western line, Harvey, first in Tuftenboro, N. H., then in 
eastern Maine, and Josiah in New York state. The families of Joab and Charles 
are as follows: Joab Colcord, b. Aug. 14, 1793; m. Betsey M. Towle, Dec. 24, 1818; 
d. April 14, 1878. Mrs. Colcord was born May 14, 1797; died Jan. 19, 1867. Their 
children were: John M., b. Dec. 13, 1819; d. Nov, 13, 1863. Henry A. F., b. Nov. 24, 
1823; still living. Charles, b. Nov. 6, 1826; d. Jan. 18, 1830. Simeon F., b. April 2, 
1831; d. Jan. 14, 1833. EUzabeth, b. July 31, 1821; d, Feb. 9, 1823. Clarinda, b. May 
6, 1837; d. March 31, 1838. Of these, only John and Henry were married. John M. 
married Lucy Bingham, Nov. 27, 1849. Henry A. F. married Nancy C. Wingate 
(born April 22, 1824; died June 16, 1855), May 23, 1850, and upon her death, was again 
married to Eliza A. Towle, September 6, 1855. The children of Henry A. F. are: An 
infant son, died in 1851. Lewis H., b. Nov. 26, 1853; d. April 22, 1854. Sarah H. B. 
b. Aug. 18, 1854; d. Aug. 20, 1877. John H., b. June 16, 1857; d. April 5, 1864. Clara 
b. Oct. 18, 1861. John M., b. Jan. 18, 1865. Charles F., b. Sept. 21, 1868. Charles 
Colcord, the brother of Joab, married Abigail Towle, of Paisonsfield. They had 
several children, most of whom died in early youth. Jxiliette and Hester lived to 
young womanhood. This completes the genealogy of the descendants of both Josiah 
and Joab, except in the remote branches. The other descendants have left town. 



? 



37^ HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

CONNER. 

Jesse Conner, son of Jonathan Conner, of Exeter, N. H. was born Dec. 18, 1765, and 
married Chase Deshon, of Waterboro, Me., moved to Parsonsfield and died Dec. 8, 
1843. His wife died Sept. 1, 1852. They had eight children, viz. : Jesse and Dorcas, 
twins, b. May 21, 1799. Mary, b. Sept. 16, 1802; d. Oct. .31, 1879, unmarried. Sarah, 

died in infancy. Daniel and Eunice, twins, b. 1806. Jonathan C. . Moses, b. 

Feb. 2, 1814. None of the name remain in town. A daughter of Jesse jr. was the 
wife of John Merrill, deceased, of East Parsonsfield. Moses married Koxanna Durgin, 
of Limerick, and resided in that town, dying Feb. 3, 1880. He had five children. 
Dorcas married Daniel Smith, of Epping, N. H., now a resident of Parsonsfield, and 
they have three children, Daniel, Chase and Dorcas. Eunice married Isaac H. Hunt, 
of Concord, Mass. 

DALTON. 

Samuel Dalton, who came to Parsonsfield a year or two after the incorporation of 
the town, 1786-87, was a lineal descendant in the fifth generation of Philemon Dalton, 
who was one of the founders of Dedham, Mass., and subsequently one of the original 
proprietors of Hampton, N. H. Philemon Dalton came to this country in 1635, his 
brother, Rev. Timothy Dalton, following him in 1637 from Suffolk County, England, 
where in Woolverstone, on the river Orwall, near Ipswich, Rev. Mr. Dalton had 
been minister until under the arbitrary rule of Archbishop Laud he was deprived of 
his living in 1636. He was a graduate of St. John's College, Cambridge, England, 
and on the incorporation of the town of Hampton, 1639, became the first "Teacher" 
of the church there, continuing in this ofl&ce till his death, 1661, at the age of 
eighty-four years. He left no issue. His wife Ruth died in 1666. By their wills the 
greater part of their property was given to the church at Hampton, and is the basis 
of ministerial support to this day. Philemon was made surveyor of the new town, 
and continued active in its affairs until his death in 1662. His widow married second, 
Godfrey Dearborn, the progenitor of all of that name in this country. 

Philemon left one child, Samuel,''^ born in England in 1629, who was the leading man 
of the town until his death in 1681. His name is also intimately connected with the 
colonial histoiy of the period. His widow married second, Reverend Zachariah 
Symmes, of Bradford, Mass. 

Samuel' s^ son Philemon^ was deacon of the church in Hampton until his death, 1721, 
and his son Samuel* was father of the Samuel,^ who removed to "Parsonsfield. An- 
other son, Michael, became a wealthy merchant of Newburyport, and was father of 
Honorable Tristram Dalton, first United States Senator from Mass. 

Samuel* married Sarah Scott, of Hampton, and their children, with possibly one 
exception, were born in Hampton, They were seven in number, four sons and three 
daughters. The daughters married and removed from Parsonsfield. Two of the sons 
died young. Samuel and Benjamin, growing up, remained at what was long known 
in the town as Dalton's Corner, and became perhaps the most prominent business 
men of their day. 

Samuel^ married Mary, daughter of Joel and Lydia (Perkins) Bennett, of York. 
Their children were born iu Parsonsfield, viz. : Lydia, b. July 18, 1796; m. Peter Huck- 



i 



1 



I 

■I 

f 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 373 

ins. Samuel, b. Nov. 25, 1797; married Mary Anna, daughter of Joseph and Mary 
(Jenness) Huckins, of Effingham, N. H. Mary, b. March 22, 1799; m. Alvah Moulton, 
M.D., of Ossipee, N. H. Betsy, b. Nov. 21, 1800; m. 1st, George Thomes, 2d, Amos 
Hodgdon. Tristram, b. July 11, 1802; d. unmarried. Comfort, b. 1805; d. unmarried. 
Louisa, b. April 15, 1807; m. Asahel Dearborn, m.d., of Effingham, N. H. Sarah Scott, 
b. April 18, 1809; m. Samuel Jefferson Quarles, Ossipee, N. H. Though Mr. Samuel 
Dalton's business relations with the town continued many years after, he removed 
his residence from Parsonsfield, about 1810. ^ 

BenjaminB married Abigail, daughter of Pelatiah and Anna Cartland, of Rochester, 
N. H. Their children were born in Parsonsfield, viz. : John, b.l808; d. 1825; unmar- 
ried. Anne, born Jan. 27, 1810; m. Joseph Chamberlain, of Alton, N. H. Asa, b. 
April 15, 1812; m. Patience Weed, daughter of Samuel and Isabella (Chamberlain) 
Dalton. ' Huldah, born April 27, 1814; m. John Mc Arthur. Benjamin Dalton died in 
Parsonsfield, Sept. 25. 1856. His widow died April 10, 1883, having lived in the Dalton 
house, now owned and occupied by Rev. L. T. Staples, whose wife is a granddaughter 
of Mr. Benjamin Dalton. to the age of ninety-eight years, and in the vigorous exer- 
cise of her faculties, both mind and body. Besides Mrs. Staples, the only members 
of the Dalton family residing in Parsonsfield are, Mrs. Anne, widow of the late 
Joseph Chamberlain, and her son, John Dalton Chamberlain. 

DAVIS. 

John Davis, with two brothers, came from Wales to America about 1640. John 

settled near Casco Bay. 

John Davis, who settled in Saco, was born 1748; married Hannah Fletcher; had 
ten children, two of whom settled in Parsonsfield, viz. : James and William. 

James moved here in 1817; was born in Buxton, 1789; married, 1811, Harriet Milli- 
ken- died February 9, 1837; she died November 18, 1883; had nine children, viz. : Lu- 
cind'a, Jeremiah, Sally, Jane, Sarah, Moses B., Mary, Isabelle and Harriet, all living 
(1837), save one. Lucinda,! b. Aug 9. 1812 ; m. Wm. H. Foster, 1838; had six chddren. 
viz : Eliza; James D., now a resident of Freedom, N. H.; Lucinda, died minfancy; 
Nancy W L., died in childhood; William L., died in 1862, in the United States 
service. Jeremiah,-^ b. June 26, 1815; m. Mehitable W. Foster, 1833. He had one 
son, James, b. June 16, 1841, m. Sarah F. Stacy, of Porter, in 1860; enhsted in 
Thirty second Regiment, Massachusetts, under Colonel Prescott, and re-enlisted ; drove 
General McLellan's private carriage; settled in Dorchester, where his family now 
resides; had children, Albert, Fanny, Florence and Sidney, and died at Soldiers' 
Home in Chelsea, Mass., Feb. 12, 1887. Mrs. Mehitable Davis died Dec. 12. 1842, and 
Jeremiah^ married Elizabeth Day. April 25, 1843, and had children : i, Charles, b. May 
5 1844- entered the Twenty-seventh Maine; re-enlisted and served through the war ; 
m. 1st,' Julia Weeks; had two children, Alta May and Clark; m. 2d, MiUa Pugsley, 
of Porter, May 20, 1886. ii, Elizabeth; iii, Stephen, both died young, iv, Ehza, b. July 
5 1849- m. Charles W. Jenness; has two children, v, John, b. Jan. 2, 1851 ; m. Myra 
Bray ; settled in Webster, Mass. vi, Ellen, b. May 4, 1852 ; m. Austin Hanson, vn, Jerry, 
b. Dec. 8, 1858; m. Grace J. Higgins, March 9, 1887. viii, Hattie, b. July 24. 1860; m. 
Edwin Libby ; d. Oct. 25, 1883. ix, Ella, born July 20, 1863; m. Herbert L. Ridlon; has 



374 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

three children, Gertrude, Myron and Samuel. Sally^ b. Nov. 30, 1817 ; m. Stephen Mar- 
tin; had two daughters, Sarah, the wife of Andrew Edgcomb, of Parsonsfield, who had 
four children, and Mary, the wife of George Mason, of Porter. Jane,* b. June 12, 1820; 
m. Isaac Foster, of Parsonsfield ; had eight children, Charles, Martha, Hannah, Mary, 
William, Moses, Emma, Ida. Susan,^ b. Aug. 7, 1822; m. Irst, Smith Sargent, of Cor- 
inth; 2d, Stephen Chick. Moses B.,*' b. Nov. 8, 1825; m. Martha Ramsdell,1854; resides 
in Cornish; has children, Susett, Fulton, Elizabeth, Anna, Albert. Mary'^, b. May 23, 
1828; m. John P. Lougee, of Parsonsfield, Oct. 15,1845; had children, Hattie, Mary, 
Gertrude, John, Caleb. Isabelle.^ b. June 7, 1830; m. Asa Cartland, of Parsonsfield, 
who died in the Insane Hospital at Augusta in 1885; had children, Julia, Emily, John 
and James. Harriet,^ b. March 9, 1832; m. James Sargent; children, Ellen, Louis G,. 
Albert, Fred, Lizzie, Harriet, Marsha, Jenny; Lizzie and Hattie diedin January, 1887. 

DEARBORN. 

All the Dearborns in the United States are descendants of Godfrey^ Dearborn, who 
came to Exeter, N. H., about 1639, and settled in Hampton about ten years later. 
He had three sons and three daughters. His two oldest sons, Henry and Thomas, 
were born in England. The youngest son, John,'^ was born in Exeter in 1642; married 
Mary Ward, December 12, 1672 ; d. November 14, 1730. 

Issue of John^: — John,^ b. Sept. 2, 1673; m. Hannah Dow, Jan. 10, 1695; d. March 

19, 1746. Thomas, b. June 22, 1676; m. Mary Garland, Dec. 4, 1707; d. . Mary, 

b. May 6, 1678; m. Stephen Bachelder, Aug. 25, 1698; d. . 

Issue of John^: — Ann, b. Oct. 22, 1695; m. Joseph Philbrick, Dec. 4, 1717; d. . 

Joseph, b. April 9, 1699; died Dec. 9, 1700. John,* b. March 28, 1703; m. Annie San- 
born (daughter of John Sanborn, son of William Sanborn, one of the fii'st Hamp- 
ton Company), Sept. 20, 1724; d. March 24, 1754. 

Issue of John*: — Anne, b. Dec. 17, 1725; m. Joseph Wadleigh, Jan. 11, 1749; d. . 

John, died young. Hannah, b. Dec. 3, 1730; m. Dearborn Blake. Mary, b. Aug. 1, 

1732; m. Wadleigh; d. . Ruth, b. June 5, 1734; m. Thomas Blake, April 

24, 1755; d. . Elizabeth, b. March 5, 1736; m. Joseph Sanborn, March 9, 1756; 

d. . Josiah, b. Jan. 11, 1738; m. Sarah Freese, Nov. 17, 1757; d. Sept. 15, 1814. 

John,5b. July 21, 1740; m. Ziporah Towle; d. Oct. 18, 1794. 

Issue of John^: — John, b. Aug. 3, 1763; m. Mary Towle; d. Dec. 8, 1845. Jeremiah,^ 
b. Jan. 8, 1768; m. Ruth Bachelder, subsequently Nancy, sister of Ruth, moved to 
Parsonsfield; d. Jan. 25, 1851. Levi, b. Dec. 25, 1769. Francis,6 b. April 3, 1772; m. 

Betsey , of Tuftenboro, N. H. ; moved to Parsonsfield; d. April, 1839. Jacob,® b. 

May 8, 1774; m. Mary Brown; moved to Parsonsfield; d. Feb. 7, 1854. Josiah, b. Nov. 
12, 1783; resided in Hampton; d. . Thomas, b. Aug. 25, 1786; m. Ruth John- 
son; lived in Parsonsfield for a time, then moved to Dexter, Me.; d. ; had 

four children, Polly, Ruth,Thomas and David; Polly m. Asa Cram; Ruth m. William 

Trip; Thomas m. , resided in Garland, Me, died, 1883; David died at sea, 

unmarriv.(I. Jonathan, b. Aug. 22, 1788; m. Sarah Towle, daughter of Joseph Towle, 
of Hampton; d. Feb. 24, 1862; had three children, Joseph Frederick, b. May 14, 1817, 
m, Adelie C. M. Kiersten, of Dresden, Saxony, Jan. 1, 1871, resides in Melrose, Mass.; 

John Edwin, b. Oct. 23, 1819, m. Elvira Johnson, of Parsonsfield, d. ; George, 

b. July 9, 1838, d. a prisoner of war at Andersonville, July, 1864. 



1 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 375 

Issue of Jeremiah^: — By his first wife he had eleven children: 1, Dorothy, b. Sept. 
27, 1790; m. Daniel Mighel, Oct. 15, 1812; had seven children, all dead but one 
daughter, Elizabeth. 2, Jeremiah, b. Aug. 25, 1792; was soldier in War of 1812; d. June 
26, 1821. 3, Lydia, b. Ault. H, 1794; m. Isaac White, May 19, 1813; had six children, 
Jeremiah, Lydia, Susan, Ruth, Elizabeth and Isaac; she died December 6, 1871; hus- 
band died June 17, 1823. 4, Nancy, b. May 2, 1796; m. Morris Brown, of Effingham, 
Dec. 28, 1812; had six children, Theodate, Morris, Jeremiah, Nathan, Abram and 
Kesewell. all dead; she died June 5, 1861. 5, Ruth, b. May 1, 1799; m. Joseph Atchin- 
son, of Effingham; died without issue, Oct. 7, 183S. 6, John, b. Feb. 13, 1801; m. Sally 
S. Wadleigh, Dec. 20, 1826; had five children, Ruth, Samuel, Jeremiah, Elisha and 
Eveline; Ruth, b. 1827, m. Elliot Fernald, March, 1853, and they have two children 
living, the eldest, a daughter, Alfreda, the wife of Theodore Young, of Saco, and the 
youngest, a sou, John, unmarried; Samuel G., the eldest son, b. 1830, resides on the 
old homestead, unmarried; Jeremiah W., b. 1832, m. Mary G. Smart, is a resident of 
Parsonsfield, no children; Elisha, b. 1837, d. in early childhood; Eva, b. 1839, m. 
Albert Roberts, of Waterboro, has two sons, Arthur and Frederick; John Dearborn 
died April 17, 1877; Mrs. Dearborn died May 18, 18.50. 7, Ziporah, b. June 5, 1803; m. 
Isaac Pray, of Parsonsfield, Dec. 18, 1828; moved to Ossipee; d. March 6, 1830; left infant 
son, John, now a resident of California, 8, Joseph, b. 4pril 5, 1808; m. Judith Fernald, 
June 11, 1837; had three children: Elliot M., b. Sept. 27, 1842, m. Olive Roberts, Jan. 
2, 1864, have four sons, Frederick C, Frank R., Luther E. and Joseph; Sarah E., b. 
April, 1849, d. Nov., 1851; Melissa S., b. Dec. IS. 1853, unmirried; Joseph Dearborn 
died January 9, 1874 ; Mrs. Dearborn died March 14, 1882. 9, Lucinda, b. May 6, 1810; d. 
Aug. 4, 1830. 10, Elizabeth, b. Dec. 6, 1812; m. John Pray; had two daughters, Lucinda 
who married a Rowe and resides in Woodstock, Maine, and Olive, who married Geo. 
Nute, and resides in Wolfborough, N. H. ; Mrs. Pray died Aug. 4, 1830. 11, Francis, 
b. July 20, 1815 ; d. unmarried, June 29, 1855. 

Issue of Francis^: — Mehitable, b. Feb. 11, 1799; m. Jonathan Johnson, Aug. 18, 
1818; had children, Elizabeth, Lorenzo, Mary, Edwin, Lydia, Elvira, Ann and John O. 
John, b. April 18, 1802i m. Sarah Lougee; had three daughters; moved to Dixmont, 
and died there. Ziporah, b. Feb. 9, 1804; m. James Sanborn; d. — . 

Issue of Jacob^: — Rachel, b. July 6, 1798; m. James Wadleigh, Dec. 4, 1817; d. 
May, 1885. Ziporah, b. Feb. 9, 1800; married John Mudgett. Mary, b. Feb. 17, 1802; 
m. William D. Dixon Dec. 3, 1831; d. Oct. 30, 1878; had two children: Mary, b. Oct., 
1832, m. T. S. Churchill, has one child living, William D. D. Churchill, of Cornish, 
Me. ; Ellen, wife of Jeremiah Bullock, of Parsonsfield, has one daughter, Margarette. 
Betsey, b. Sept. 17, 1805: m. Samuel Foss; has two children, John Colby and Almira; 
John C, m. Abby Lord; has several children. Jacob, b. July 19, 1807; m. Maliala 
Towle; had three children who died; he died March 13, 1869; Mrs. Dearborn died 
Feb. 28, 1861. Joseph S.,^ b. Dec. 26, 1811; m. Lydia Frost, March 22, 1831; is yet 
living; Mrs. Dearborn died April 13, 1883; they had thirteen children. John, b. Aug. 
24, 1819; m. Mary Day, Feb. 13, 1840; d. June 21, 1882; had three children, one son 
and two daughters : his son, Ruthvin John, has one son, Clarence Jacob. 

Issue of Joseph S.," son of Jacob*^ :— John E., b. June 8, 1832; m. Eliza H. Heath, 
Feb., 1856; died Feb. 8, 1872; left one son, William H. Dearborn, b. June 12, 1857. 



2f']6 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Sarah F., b. Jan. 11, 1834; m. Tristram Hooper; no issue. Joseph F., b. May 29, 1835; 
m. Mary Brackett; has two children, Allie E., b. Oct. 19, 1863, and Franklin, b. Aug. 

1, 1870. He resides in Mattoon, 111. Mary A., b. Nov. 1, 1836; m. Jefferson Laurie, 
Oct. 20, 1857; has two children, Fred and Florence. They reside in Medford, Mass. 
Valorus, b. Dec. 7, 1838; d. Sept. 13, 1864, in the United States service. Lydia M., 
b.l840; m. Rev. A. G. Hill, July 2, 1861; has three children, Wilbur, Georgia and 
Ernest. They reside in Dover, Me. Ellen, b. Sept. 12, 1842; m. Joseph Frye, July 

2, 1861; has five children, Lewis, Nellie, Addle, Edgar and Lillian. Moses Sweat, b. 
Jan. 9, 1845; m. Edith M. Smith; resides in California; has five children, Mary, Nellie- 
Frank, Mollie and Lydia. George W.,b. Sept. 29, 1847; m. Emma Mudgett; no chil- 
dren. Charles A., b. July 22, 1849; m. Eliza Kenney; has five children, Grace, Ada, 
Harry, Edna and Ei-nest; resides in Parsousfield. Simon F., b. Jan. 24, 1851; m. 
Annie L. Rand, Oct. 15, 1881; has one child, Sarah F., b. Sept. 8, 1885. Annah F., b. 
July 17, 1853; unmarried. Clara A., b. Dec. 25, 1856; m. Rev. A. H. Hanscomb; 
resides in Phoenix, N. T. ; has three children, Harold, aged six, and twin daughters, 
born in 1887. 

DEVEKEUX. 

Richard Devereux was the first of the name to settle here. His son, Tlaoraas, b. 
Aug. 4, 1790; m. Phoebe Trueworthy, July 31, 1818; d. Feb. 1, 1865. Mrs. Devereux 
d. Dec. 25, 1880. Their children were John, Jonathan, Mary, Judith, Thomas and 
Phoebe. John, b. Feb. 6, 1820; ra. Eliza A. Patten, of Newport; has one son, Dr. F. 

G. Devereux (see page 157). Jonathan, b. Feb. 20, 1822; ra. 1st, Edgcomb; 2d, Mrs. 

Pamelia Brackett; has two children, Willie and Frank A.; resides in Brownfield, Me.; 
merchant and manufacturer of clothing. Mary, b. April 19, 1824; d. Aug. 21, 1859. 
Judith, b. April 2, 1826. Thomas, b. Feb. 23, 1829; d. Dec. 28, 1837. Phcsbe, b. Aug. 
15, 1832 ; d. Feb. 23, 1838. 



Nicholas Doe and brother (name unknown) came from England about 1650. Nicho- 
las^ settled at Newmarket; was twice married; had, by first wife, a son, Nicholas, 
jr., and by his second wife, a son, Bradstreet. Nicholas,^ jr., married; had sons^ 
NathanieP settled in Newfield, Me; Joseph^ settled in Newmarket; Nicholas Churchill, 
also in Newmarket; Gideon^ and John,^ the two latter settled in Parsousfield. 

Issue of NathanieF: — Simon settled in Fairfield, Me. Nathaniel settled in Water- 
ville. Henry settled in Augusta. John Washington settled in Tamworth, N. H. ; 
had seven sons. Dearborn Doe, who died in Parsonsfield in 1886, was his second son. 

Issue of Joseph*: — Walter died in Albany, N. Y. Joseph settled in Somersworth, 
N. H. Bartlett settled in Saratoga, N. Y. Nicholas Churchill was drowned in New- 
market. Gideon,* b. 1740; m., 1st, Abigail Conner, of Newmarket, in 1765; 2d, 
Eunice Hill, in 1798, who died in 1799; 3d, Sarah Gilman, in 1799, who died June 15, 
1819. He died April 8, 1820. By his first wife he had eleven children, viz. : Betsey, 
b. Feb. 13, 1766, d..in infancy. Eliphalet,^ b. March 10, 1707, d. in Parsonsfield; 
Gideon, jr., b. Aug. 7, 1769, d. at sixteen years of age; Jeremy,* b. March 19, 1771, d. 
in Parsonsfield; Amasa, b. July, 1773, no record of his death; Joseph, b. Oct. 8, 1774, 
(]. in Parsonsfield; Abigail, b. March 10, 1777, d. in P.; Conner, b. April 28, 1779, d. in 



4 
I 



-* 



'=« 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 377 

Parsonsfield ; Nicholas, b. May 21, 1781, d. in P.; Meribah, b. March 21, 1783, d. in 
infancy; Olive, b. March 8, 1788, killed in New Tork state by railroad. 

Issue of Eliphalet^: — Elipbalet m., 1st, a Hannaford; had two sons, Mark and 
Josiah. Mark died in Par'sonsfield ; Josiah died in Virginia, leaving three children. 
Elipbalet married, 2d, Mrs. Betsey Hill, nee Clark, of Stratham, and they had Ebeu- 
ezer H. ; Nancy; Ira; Moses; Salome, and Meribah. 

Issue of Jeremy^:— Jeremy m., 1796, Sarah Garland; d. Feb. 14, 1854; wife d. Oct. 
1.3, 1842; had children: Hannah, b. Sept. 4, 1797; unmarried; d. Dec. 28, 1808. Gideon, 
b. Oct. 25, 1799; d. .Jan. 2, 1824. Mary G., b. Oct. 5, 1801; d. July 6, 1870. Nancy, b. 
Aug. 4, 1805; m. David H. Coombs, 18.35; had five children; d. Aug. 4, 1875. Olive, 
b. April 10, 1807; m. William Buzzell; d. June 22, 1875. Amasa,^ b. Nov. 27, 1808; m. 
Mary J. Pease, Jan. 1, 1840; d. July 10, 1882. Joseph G.,6 b. Jan. 4, 1810; m. Louisa 
K. Hurd, 1839; d. Nov. 28, 1868. Oliver C. b. April 1, 1815; d. unmarried, June 22, 
1875. 

Issue of Amasa^; — Bradbury, b. July 11, 1844; m. Rebecca C. Hawes. Jan. 2, 1870; 
has four children. Charles F., b. Jau. 29, 1848; m. Lizzie Whiting, Nov. 18, 1879. 
John W., b. March 24, 1852; m. Clara C. Castellon, Sept 10, 1874; has four children. 
Eugene M., b. May 6, 1854; m. Myra B. Lord, Nov. 11, 1879; resides in Parsonsfield; 
has three children, Herbert, Laforest and Eugene. 

Issue of Joseph G^: — Howard, b. March 1, 1841; m. Emma F. Blake; has one child, 

H. Leslie. Ellen M., b. Feb. 20, 1843; d. , leaving one son, Orestes. Tristram 

H., b. July 18, 1844; m. Fanny Stone; has three children. 

Issue of John^:— John Doe,^ b. Sept. 9, 1748; m. Elizabeth Ames, Dec. 27, 1773; 
d. Feb. 21, 1819; wife d. July 27, 1810; they had eight children: Annie, Bartlett, 
John, Mary, Betsey, Bartlett,* Sally, ;Comfort. Anne, b. Sept. 15, 1774; m. Josiah 
Hannaford. Bartlett, b. June 22, 1776; d. in infancy. John, jr„ b. Aug. 31, 177S; m. 
Abigail Giddings; d. Jan. 24, 1821 ; had ten children: Deborah, Betsey, John, Martha, 
Mary, Bartlett, Ira, Rufus, Maria, William. Mary, b. June 23, 1781 ; m. Morris Leav- 

itt; had four children; died . Betsey, b. Sept. 13, 1783; m. David Crockett; 

had eight children; d. . Bartlett,* b. Aug. .30, 1785; m. Mary Sanborn, Nov. 

29, 1810; d. Feb. 11, 1872; had twelve children, Martha, Mary, Alvah, Amzi, Hannah, 
Bartlett, John, Elizabeth, Calvin, Calvin 2d, Nancy, Charles. Sally, b. July 29, 1787; 

m. James Manston; d. . Comfort, b. Aug. 11, 1790; m. Gideon Colcord, 1809; 

d. 1833; had six children. Rufus, Elizabeth, Climena, Josiah, Clara and Mercy. 

Issue of Bartlett^: — Martha m. Ira Moore; resided in Parsonsfield. Mary, twin 

sister, m. Jonathan Wedgwood, of Effingham, N. H. Alvah, b. ; m. 1st, Martha 

J. Leavitt; 2d, Susan Moulton; sons by first wife: Edward A., d. in Parsonsfield, 
1860; George I., a resident of Wilton, N. H. ; Amzi S., d. in Galveston, Texas, in 
1867; Augustus, d. in Parsonsfield, 1846; Mellen; Frank P.; Charles H. The three 
last are residents of San Francisco, Cal. Amzi settled in Presque Isle, Me ; d., 1867; 
left one son, Arthur, a resident of Parsonsfield; m. Estelle Lombard; no children. 
Bartlett, unmarried; resident of San Francisco, Cal. John, unmarried; resident of 
San Francisco, Cal, Elizabeth m. David Moulton, of Newfield; resides in Boston. 
Calvin, died early. Calvin, 2d, died early. Nancy, m. Samuel F. Kezar and resides in 
Turner, Me. Charles, unmarried ; resident of San Francisco, Cal. 



37^ HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

DURGIN. 

Silas Durgin settled in Parsonsfield in 1833. He was born March 8, 1788, in Cornish, 
Me.; m., 1810, Dorcas Holmes; d. June 18, 1867; wife d. Jan. 3, 1881. They had 
twelve children: Clarissa, b. Feb. 11, 1811; d. Aug. 1, 1819. Dorcas H., b. May 13, 
1813; m. Caleb Marston; d. Aug. 30, 1863. James H., b. April 21, 1815; m. Jane Var- 
ney; d. May 8, 1873. Sally W., b. Oct. 13, 1817; m. 1st, Major H. Folsom; had two sons 
Levi and Peter; m. 2d, Moses Cross. Silas, b. March 11, 1820; m. 1st, Martha Rogers; 
2d, Caroline F. Gale; d. March 18, 1867. Stephen, b. Jan. 31, 1823; ra. Clara Jackland ; 
resides at Woliborough, N. H. Aaron K., b. Sept. 10, 1825 ; m. Susan Beatty. Simeon, 
b. April 4, 1828; m. 1st, Jane Mooney; 2d, Elizabeth Wentworth. Susan, b. May 10, 
1831; d. in infancy. Joseph E., b. Aug. 10, 1833; m. Francis Taylor; d. Sept. 23, 1871; 
left a daughter, who married Everett Leavitt, of Effingham, N". H. John, b. Nov. 18, 
1836; d. Nov, 1862; unmarried. Samuel H. (see page 153). 



Samuel Dutch, b. in Lee, N. H., 1773; m. Betsey Marshall, of Brentwood; moved to 
Parsonsfield; d. Oct. 12, 1842; wife d. Sept. 25, 1866, aged ninety-one. They had three 
children: Abigail, b. Oct. 14, 1797; m. Ebeuezer Booth by; d. Feb. 5, 1844. Henry, b. 
Nov. 4, 1802; d. Nov., 1887; unmarried. Samuel, jr., b. Oct. 4, 1804; m. Olive Towle, 
of Effingham; d. March 24, 18,56; wife d. June 25, 18S3. They had one son, Charles, b. 
Oct. 6, 1849, who married Eliza Knox, of Parsonsfield, and has three children. 

EMERSON. 
(For ancestry see page 245.) 

First settler, Luther Emerson, b. in Alfred, Me., Nov. 11, 1782; m. Elizabeth Usher 
Parsons, 1807; d. July 4, 1875; wife d. Oct. 11, 1857; children: Thomas P. (see page 
61), b. May 17, 1839; m. Mrs. Stella F. Briggs; had one son, Sylvester; d. Nov. 8, 1870. 
Sylvester, b. June 17, 1812; d. Oct. 17, 1833. Joseph Pratt (see page 2451. Lucy Brad- 
bury, b. March 25, 1815; m. Rev. Calvin Chapman, Sept. 3, 1842; d. April 14, 1873; 
had three children. Charles H. (see page 65). Luther O. (see page 246). Elizabeth 
Usher, b. March 9, 1825 (see John Moore, md., page 142). 

Issue of Joseph P., b. Nov. 13, 1810; m. Sarah Dunfield, Sept. 15, 1831; d. July 17, 
1884: wife died July, 1887; had eight children: Elizabeth U., m. B. T. Allen, and 
has two children, Lizzie E. and Frederick E. Abbie P., m. 1st, Anthony Jackson; 
has three children; m. 2d, Edmond Richards. George E., m. Elvira Shanks; has four 
children, Ralph, Victor, George and Clyde. Sarah D., m. J. W. Cook (see page 249). 
Augusta C, m. E. T. Knight; has two children. Helen A., m. Newton Hobbs; has 
one son, James. Henry B., m. Alice Ames; has one son, Henry Waldo. Herbert J., 
m. Anna Stetson; has two children, Archie, Sai-ah. 

Issue of Charles H.,b. Aug. 3, 1818; m. Lydia E. Ricker, Sept. 6, 1858; bad seven 
children: Rose, d. Jan. 6, 1860. Elizabeth P., m. O. A. H. Bruce; no children; d. 
Jan. 7, 1886. Ralph B., Luther, Abbie F. Edward U., d. Feb. 5, 1879. 
Alfred, d. Jan. 28, 1879. 

Issue of Luther O. : — b. At^g. 3, 1820; m. Mary Jane Gove, of Boston, Mass. 
March 4, 1847; had seven children: Mary G., m. E. W. Clark; children, Mabel 



3 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 379 

E. and Caroline B. ; m. 2d, William B. Jones. John G. married Ada H. Elden; had one 
child, Elden E. Luella P., m. Robert Davis; had one child, Robert E. Charles W., 
m. Fannie B. Esty; children, Luther O. and Alexander M. Abbie R., d. 1859. Eliza- 
beth U. and Mabel Holmes. 

FENDERSOK. 

Ancestor, Samuel Fenderson, came from England, and settled in Scai'borough. 

First settler, John Fenderson, moved to town in 1795, and settled where Ivory Fen- 
derson now lives. He was born July 15, 1757, in Scarborough, Me. ; married 1st, Sarah 
Keuney, of Saco, who died March, 1798; married 2d, Mary Milliken, who died Aug. 29, 
1851, aged ninety-seven. He died June 24, 1852. Children: Polly, Nathan, Nathaniel, 

John, Edward A., Sally. Polly, b. ; ra. John Perry; has children, Josiah, William, 

Mary and Sally; moved to eastern part of State; d. Nov., 1821. Nathan, b. March 1, 
1785; m. Betsey Parks, June 19, 1809; settled on homestead; had children, Joseph, 

Edward A., Ivory, Jonathan A. and John. Nathaniel, b. ; was in the war of 

1812; last known of him, was in Dartmoor prison, John, b. ; m. Hannah Perry; 

settled in East Machias. Edward A., b. ; killed by falling of tree, June 15, 1807. 

Sally, b. April 15, 1795; unmarried; lived on homestead; d. . 

Issue of Nathan : — Joseph, b. Aug. 11, 1810. Edward A., b. Nov. 2, 1814; m. 
Martha Babb, May 12, 183- ; children: William B., m. Sarah Chick; Edward J., m. 
Mahala Mackey. Ivory, b. Feb. 9, 1816; m. Martha Chase, April 4, 1841; children, 
i, Nathan W., b. Aug. 22, 1842, m. Abby F. Brackett, and has two children; ii, Mary 
E., b. June, 1844, unmarried; iii, George H., b. Aug. 12, 1852, m. Mary Davis, of Ports- 
mouth. Jonathan A., b. Nov. 18, 1821 ; m. Emma Haley, of Boston ; has two children, 
Charles W. and Juliette. John, b. March 16, 1826; m. Eliza E. Savage, of Charles- 
town, April 11, 1849; has five children, Mary, John S., Martha, James O. and Eliza. 

FERNALD. 

Dr. Reginald Fernald was born in England, 1595; came to this country, settled in 
Portsmouth, N. H., about 1630; d., 1656. Elliot, fifth generation from him, son of 
Eleazer and Margery Fernald, b. in Berwick, Me., March 9, 1785; came to North Par- 
sonsfield in 1800; m. Sally Mudgett, Jan. 31, 1811; d. June 16, 1858; wife d. April 7, 
1882; had four children: Judith, b. Feb. 18, 1812; m. Joseph Dearborn, June 11, 1837 
(see Dearborn genealogy). Dorothy M, b. Dec. 22, 1815; m. Rev. James Rand, of Par- 
sonsfield, Dec. 26, 1839; had children: i, John E., b. April 2,1841. m, Lizzie E. Randall, 
April 2, 1865, has two childivn, James L. and Eva E. ; ii, Sarah F., b. May 29, 1845, m. 
Andrew Abbott, April 12, 1877, three children ; iii, Eliza L., b. Oct. 24, 1848, m. C. W. 
Fernald, one child; iv, Zylpha, b. Apr. 18, 1853, m. Charles A. Littlefield, Nov. 29, 1877. 
Sarah, b. March 3, 1820; m. Thomas B. Wentworth, Feb. 5, 1850; has four children: 
i, Charles F., b. Feb. 17, 1851, m. Mattie A. Banks, June 24, 1877, has four children: 
ii, Lizzie, b. April 8, 1853; iii, Frank, b. July 2, 1856; iv, Zenas P., b. Dec. 17, 1862. 
Elliot, jr., b. Nov. 19, 1828; m. Ruth B. Dearborn, March 8, 1853; had three children: 
Alfreda E., b. May 15, 1854, m. Theodore T. Young, a.b., Feb. 25, 1885; Ida Eva, b. 
April 4, 1858, d. Oct. 6, 1876 ; John E., b. Sept. 3, 1866. 



380 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



The first ancestor in this country was Samuel Fogj?, born in England about 1630 ; 
came to Hampton, N. H., where his son Samuel lived to the age of one^huudred and 
seven years. James Fogg, seventh in descent from him, son of Deacon Seth and 
Elizabeth Mordough Fogg, born in Ossipee, March 31, 1793; m. Hannah Hubbard 
July 5, 1818; removed to West Parsonsfield, 1836; died Nov. 5, 185S; wife d. Dec. 14, 
1862; had six sons and three daughters: i, Daniel, b. Jan. 16, 1820; m. Clara Benson, 
1857; had two children, Nettie and Eva. ii, Moses, b. Dec. 22, 1821 ; died April 6, 1844. 
iii, John C, b. May 6, 1824; died Oct. 3, 1842. iv, James, b. March 10, 1826; d. Nov. 16, 
1844. V, Amasa,b. Nov. 10, 1827; d. Nov. 24, I80I. vi, Hubbard, b. Oct. 12, 1829; m. Lois 
Ann Allen, June 6, 1856; has five' children, all living (1887): Willis A., m. Clara Pierce, 
Oct, 5, 1886; George H. m. Mary Allen, Oct. 11, 1885; Newton H., m. Katie A. Bradun, 
Aug. 18, 1883; Newell T. ; Mercy Flora, vii, Ruth, b. July 27, 1831 ; died Nov. 14, 1844. 
viii, Hannah b. Sept. 22, 1833; m. George West, 1858; d,Jan. 23, 1860. ix, Elizabeth, 
b. Feb. 15, 1838; m. Joseph Burke, 1866; has three children. 

GARLAND. 

John Garland lived in Hampton, N. H , and was contemporary with George Gar- 
land, who appeared in Maine in 1659. John married, Oct. 26, 1654, Elizabeth, wid ow 
of Thomas Chase and daughter of Thomas Philbrick. His will bears date, Nov. 15, 
1671, he being then about fifty years old (b. about 1620). He died Jan. 4, 1672, and 
his widow married Henry Roby, Feb. 19, 1674. John Garland^ and Elizabeth had 
John, who took oath of allegiance in Hampton, Dec. 1678, Jacob, Peter.'-^ 

Peter Garland^ married, and had Jonathan, John, James, Mary and Abigail. 

Jonathan Garland^ (Peter^, Johu^) m. Oct. 21, 1714, Rachel Dow; had Samuel,* Jona- 
than, Abigail, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, James, Rachel, Anna, Simeon (d. early), Simeon 
and Mary. 

Samuel Garland* CJonathau^, Peter,^ Johni), m. and had Jonathan,^ b. July 3, 1746, 
Samuel, DoUe, Anna, Sarah and Abigail. 

Jonathan Garland^ (Samuel,* Jonathan,^ Peter,^ Johni), m. Abigail , b. Feb. 5, 

1746; had Sainuel.s b. Nov. 28, 1771, d. March o, 1855; Lydia, b. March 9, 1774. m. 

Ward, d. Oct. 5, 1861, aged 87; David, b. Dec. 10, 1775, d. Aug. 8. 1858, aged 82; 

Hannah, b. Oct. 13, 1777, m. — Randall, d. April 1, 1856, aged 78; Dolle, b. Feb. 10^ 
•1781; Jonathan b. Aug. 29, 1782, d. Nov. 6, 1865, aged 83; John, b. July 7, 1787, d! 
Feb. 11, 1870, aged 82. 

Samuel Garland^ (Jonathan■^ Samuel,* Jonathan,^ Peter,^ John^). m. Molly Batch- 
elor, b. July 7, 1775, d. Nov. 18, 1833; he d. March 5, 1855. They had: David, b. Aug. 
23, 1794; d. March 23, 1885, aged 91. Jonathan, b. March 15, 1796; d. Oct. 31, 1873, 
aged 77. Abigail, b. May 14, 1797; m. Rev. H. A. Merrill, of Conway, N. H.; d. in 
Granville, Ohio, Feb. 2:3, 1882, aged 85. Edmund, b. Feb. 1.5, 1799; d. in Granville, 
Ohio, April 3,1886, aged 87. Thomas L., b. Nov. 15, 1800; d. March 11, 1864. Clarissa, 
b. Aug. 1, 1802. John, b. Jan. 10, 1805; d. July 23, 1883, aged 78. Mary A., b. March 
6, 1808; d. Feb. 1, 1868, aged 89. Joseph, b. Aug, 12, 1811. Dorothy, b. June 15, 1813. 

Issue of SamueF ( Jonathan,^ Samuel,* Jonathan,^ Peter,^ John^) : — 1, David { see page 
302). His eldest son, i, Samuel, m. Catharine P. Wiggin, daughter of Lot Wiggin, of 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 38 1 

• 

Limerick; lias two daughters, resides in Gorham ; ii, Joseph, iii, William, iv, Charles, 
V, Abigail; vi, Mary, yet living. 2, Jonathan moved to Winslow, Me. 3, Edmund (see 
pages 60, 283), married 1st, Mary, daughter of Daniel Sewell, of Kennebunk; she d. 
March 17, 1872, aged 76; m. 2d, Lucre tia W. Dorrance, of Kennebunk; she d. Nov. 23, 
1882, aged 72 years. 4, Thomas, m. Elizabeth Drummond, of Winslow, Me. ; there re- 
sided. 5, Clarissa, m. 1st, Rev. Henry P. Kelley; 2d, Rev. Mr. Olds, of Granville, Ohio: 
there resides, a widow. 6, John (see page 30.3). 7, Mary A., unmarried ; d. in Granville, 
Ohio; buried in Maple Grove cemetery; inscrip tion on stone runs thus: "Mary Ann 
Garland, b. Parsonsfield, Me., 6 Mar., 1808; d. 1 Feb. 1868, aged 59 yrs., 10 mo. 5 d. 
Asleep in Jesus." She was an amiable lady. 8, Joseph (see page 65), m. Clarissa 
Loring, of Norridgewock; has two children, Joseph B. and Clara E. 9, Dorothy, m. 
Thomas Ward, of Hampton, and there resided; d. . 

Jacob Garland^ (John^) lived in Newbury: he ra., Jan. 17, 1682, Rebecca, daughter 
of Thomas Sears ; had two children, Jacob, b. Oct. 26, 1682, and Rebecca, b. Dec. 3, 
1683; he then removed to Hampton, N. H., and had eleven children whose names 
are unknown. 

Savage also mentions " Petei-, Charlestown, 1637; Boston, 1654; by wife Joan had 
Mary; removed to New Hampshire perhaps, before 1686." [Was he John's^ father, 
or brother?] Also " Jabez, Dover; by wife Dorcas had Jabez, b. Feb. 10, 1693; Dor- 
cas, b. April 3, 1698; Rebecca, b. Jan. 25, 1700; Ebenezer, b. March 14, 1704; Nathan- 
iel, b. April 12, 1706; Lydia, b. Feb. 17, 1708." From his date he may have been a 
son of John.2] 

GRANVILLE. 

The first settler of this name was a descendant of Lord Granville, of England. He 
had two children, Joseph and Nancy. Said Joseph (or a son by said name), b. in 
Newburyport, 1762; entered the army at sixteen years of age; came to Parsonsfield, 
1783; built first saw-mill in town; had eight children, four sons and four daughters, 
all dead. One son settled in Parsonsfield, and has one son Rufus now living. Said 
Rufus married and has several children. One of the Granvilles settled in Effingham, 

N. H., and had sons Thomas and John, and daughters , wife of Elijah Taylor, 

Hannah, unmarried, Sophronia, wife of Cyrus Champion, Mrs. Grush, of Brookliue, 
Mass., and Mary, who died in 1861. A sister of this Effiingham Granville married 
Reuben Edwards, and raised a numerous family. These Granvilles were born prior to 
the present century. 

HANNAFORD. 

This family was of English descent, first settling near Newmarket, N. H. First 

settler in Parsonsfield, Josiah Hannaford, son of and Anna Dearborn Hannaford; 

moved to town about 1790; was born May, 1770, Newmarket, N. H. ; m. Nancy Doe, 
April 17, 1784; d. March, 1816; wife d. 1828; had nine children: Sally, b. June 9, 1794; 
m. Tobias Ricker; d. Sept., 1863; her one surviving child, Erastus F., lives in Osceola, 
Iowa. Nancy, b. May 12, 179G; m. Rufus Mclntire; d. Feb. 2, 18:30. Betsj, b. April 
27, 1798; m. Josiah P. Oilman; d. Dec. 18:32; her only child, George, lives in Illinois. 
Susan L., b. April 25, 1800, unmarried; d. Aug. 1834. Levi A., b. March 29, 1S03; ra. 



382 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Caroline W. Collins, of Windham, Me. ; settled in Hiram; d. in Farmington, 111., 1879; 
had two children, Edward and Carrie (see page 140). John, b. Sept. 20, 1805; m. Mrs. 
Lydia Young, of St. Louis, Mo. ; after living several years in St. Louis, went to Peoria 
County, 111., where he now lives; no children. Mar^B., b, Feb. 2, 1808; ra. Rufus 
Mclntire; d. Nov. 19, 18.38. Reuben, b. March 29, 1810; m. Mary A. Smith, of Gorham, 
Me.; he settled and is now living in Trivoli; has one son, James B., living in the 
same town. QatliMinej b. Oct., 1815; d. Nov. 18:^<2, unmarried. Josiah Hannaford's 
mother married a second time, Samuel Page, then of Wakefield, N. H., and was the 
mother of John and DanieJ Dearborn Page, Theodate Corson and Sarah H. Page; she 
died in Parsonsfleld in 1816. Her daughter, Nancy Haunaford, married Elipbalet 
Doe, son of Gideon Doe, one of the early settlers of Parsonsfleld, and died young. 
Levi Hannaford, a younger brother of Josiah, was a youth of great promise, it is said; 
he was a student of Phillips' Exeter Academy, but from ill health was obliged to give 
up his studies, and died of consumption at the age of twenty-three, at his brother's 
home in Parsonsfleld. Daniel Dearborn Page left home in Parson-sfleld when a boy, 
and after living in Boston, Cincinnati and New Orleans, drifted to St. Louis, Mo., 
then a French village; he had marked natural abilities, and became a wealthy and 
influential citizen of St. Louis, and her first miyor. One of his daughters is the wife 
of Henry D. Bacon, the other, the wife of William T. Coleman, both prominent citi- 
zens of San Francisco, Cal. D. D. Page died in 18G9. His only son, Francis W., died 
in St. Louis, in 1883, 

HILTON. 

Tradition says that Edward Hilton was the first of the name in this country, settled 
in Dover, N. H., in the seventeenth century. Dudley Hilton, son of Dudley and 
Sarah (Taylor) Hilton, b. March 28, 1753, in Newmarket, N. H. ; m. Rhoda Bickford; d. 
May 11, 183(5; wife d. July 21, 1822; six children: Nancy, b. April 3, 1785; m. James 

Morrison; d. . Martlin, b. April 15, 1790; m. Noah Burnham; d. Aug. 4, 1869. 

Rhoda, b. Dec. 2, 1795; m. James Thomas; d. Aug. 1868. Susan, b. March 28,1797; 
d. Aug. 18, 1817. George.5 John, b. July 27, 1801; m. Sarah Whittier; d. Sept.. 1880. 

Issue of George^ (Dudley^): — George,^ b. March 22, 1799; m. 1st, Abigail F. Ricker, 
Jan. 21, 1823; 2d, Martha A. Eastman, Nov. 18, 1858. By first wife : i, Rhoda Y., b. Jan. 
22, 1824; m. William H. Hoyt, of Lowell, Aug. 29, 1850. ii, Susan E., b. Jan. 12, 1826; 
m.Frederick Lovejoy, of Lowell, Nov. 29, 1853. iii, Rufus M.,b. Jan. 1, 1828; m. Susan 
C. Dunnells, March 13, 1851 ; resides in Parsonsfield, has one daughter, iv, Mary A., b. 
Dec. 1, 1829; m. William H. Cross, Feb. 27, 1858; resides in San Francisco, v, Alpheus 
S., b. Feb. 19, 1832; m. 1st, Orriville A. Parks, Nov. 8, 1854; had two children, one 
died early, and one son, Frank, now living; m. 2d, Etta Y. Fogg, of Limerick, May 
28, 1831 ; resides on family homestead, vi, Moses M., b. Nov. 27, 1835; m. Carrie Huse, 
Aug. 21, 1862; enlisted in the late war and died in United States service, April 26, 
1863. vii, George W. (see page 154), b. Aug. 9, 1839; m. Mary E. McCommon, Dec. 3, 
1865. viii, Pelatiah R., b. March 4, 1843; m. Agnes O. Ricker, May 9, 1869. ix, Charles 
A., b. July 22, 1845; m. Sarah A. Carpenter, April 21, 1872 (see personal notice). By 
second wife: x, Cora B., b. Dec. 15, 1860; d. 1879. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 383 



David Hobbs, born in England, Feb. 6, 1718, came to Rye, N. H., May 24, 1738. David 
Hobbs J1-.2 son of David^ and Elizabeth (Scllley) Hobbs, b. May 21, 1738; m. Susan 
Leavitt, 1774; moved to Parsonsfiekl, 1782; d. 1826: had children, David,^ Mollie and 
Benjamin. David, b. July 3, 1779; m. Judith Jenness, 1799; d. Aug. 5, 1865. Mollie 

m. Daniel Gilman; d. ; had several children, Sumner, Woodbury (see page 144), 

Smith and Mary. Benjamin m, Abigail Parsons, April 14, 1808; resided in Effingham. 

Issue of David^ (David,^ Davidi): — i, Moses L. (see page 140). ii, Mary, b. 1802; m. 
1st, Dr. Moses L. Marston; had three daughters: Cornelia, m. John Goodwyne, settled 
in Mississippi, had one daughter, Florence E. (now the wife of George W. Davis, of 
Newfield), who has one sou, b. 1887, (Mrs. Goodwyne resides with her) ; Judith, m. 
Jesse Wedgwood, has one daughter, Mary Kate, a lady of fine musical attainments; 
Helen, m. Asahel D. Clark of Effiingham, had two daughters, Anna and Delia. Dr. 

Marston d. , and Mrs. Marston m. 2d, Dr. Stejjhen Adams of Newfield, and had 

three children: Clement J. Adams, m. Sarah J. Dorman; Stephen L., m. 1st, Caroline 
Perkins, 2d, Love Lord, has one son, Stephen Clement; Rebecca, m. Dr. Noah Sanborn, 
resides in Jersey City, iii, Victory, b. 1806; d. in Texas, 1840, unmarried, iv, Alvah, b. 
1812; m. Jane Perkins; settled in Effingham; had three sons, Harry, Newton and David. 
V, John, b. Dec. 5, 1809; m. 1st, Arvilla Gammon; had one son. Victory, married, living 
on homestead; m. 2d, Mercy J. Whitten. Dr. Moses L. had four sons and one daugh- 
ter: David L., d. ; Joseph, d. ; Leavitt M., settled in California, now resi- 
dent of North Hampton; Victory, d. ; Angie, settled at Seabrook; m. . 



Joshua W. Hodsdon, b. March 1, 1806, in Porter; m. Anna Moony, Feb. 7, 1833; 
children: 1, Gilman M., b. in Eaton, Sept. 23, 1834; ra. Sarah J. Reed, Jan. 1859; four 
children: Charles E., b. Jan. 21, 1860; Frank E., b. in Acton, Sept. 5, 1861; Cora B,, 
b. in Newfield, Aug. 16, 1864; Albert H., b. in Parsonsfield, Aug. 24, 1867. 2, Ann A.,b. 
in Parsonsfield, Sept. 6, 1836; m. James F. Smith, of Brownfield, Aug. 14, 1864; two 
children: Anna, b. May 8, 1865; Gilbert H., b. in Boston, Nov. 23, 1869. 3, Sophia M., 
b. April 15, 1839; m. Edgar A. Neal, Jan. 2, 1856; had two children: Ida A., b. in Por- 
ter, Jan. 1, 1860; Eva E., b. Nov. 21, 1861. 4, Abby A., b. Nov. 9. 1841; m. Stillman C. 
Smith, Boston, Nov. 26, 1867; one child, Arthur, b. in Boston, Oct. 8, 1875. 5, Marcia 
E., b. Dec. 7, 1846; d. in Boston. 



George Kezar, the noted hunter, was early in the forests of Parsonsfield, some 
years prior to its purchase by Thomas Parsons, probably as early as 1768, but did not 
move his family here until 1777. None of the family ever lived at Kezar Falls; that 
place, however, taking its name from George Kezar's foot-bridge, across the river at 
that point. His sons were George, Josiah, Ebenezer and Abner, and three daugh- 
ters. These sons all lived for many years in Parsons6eld. The descendants of Eben- 
ezer and Abner until the present. Abner, b. in Canterbury, N. H., 1773 ; m. Dorcas 
Perry, Oct. 27, 1803; d. Oct. 9, 1849; wife d. Sept. 7, 1847, aged sixty-five; children: 1, 
Sally, b. Jan. 31, 1804; m. George Gibbs; settled in Porter. 2, Jane, b. Oct., 1806; m. 



384 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

George Young; settled in Parsonsfleld ; d. 1886, in Lynn; had four children: Dorcas, 
wife of Jacob Mudgett, of Lynn ; John m. Eveline Dearborn, resides in Parsonsfleld; 

George m. Sadler, resides in Parsonsfleld, and Winfield Scott killed at Sauford, 

Me., 1887. 3, John, b. 1806; m. 1st, Annie Mathews, of Ossipeej had five children; m. 
2d, Mrs. Abraham Roberts, of Porter; d. 1864 (see page 336). 4, Nancy, b. June, 1810. 
5, Mary, b. Oct. 1812; m. Dominicus McKenney, of Limington; d. 1848. 6, Abner, b. 
Sept., 1814; m. Rebecca Merrill; has one son, Abner Hardy, a physician in Cal. ; d. 
1849. 7, Susan, b. Oct., 1816; m. 1st, Oliver Kennison, 2d, Eben Blazo, of Porter; d. 
Nov. 18—; no children. 8, Hannah, b. Nov. 1818; m. John Kennison, of Parsonsfleld; 
resides on homestead. 9, James, b. March, 1820; m. Lettice Newbegin; has three 
children, Edwin, George and Ellen live in Parsonsfleld. Maria, b. 1827; d. June, 1858. 

Issue of John,3 son of Abner: — Samuel F., b. Dec. 4, 1829; m. Nancy A. Doe, Dec. 4, 
1853; two children: John B., b. Oct. 14, 1855; Mary A., b. Aug. 29, 1859; all settled in 

Turner, Me. Horace, b. Dec. 13, 1833; m. Deborah Fowler Freedom, 1856; d. . 

Sarah J., b. Jan. 22, 1837; m. John Trueworthy and settled in Michigan, Martha A., 
b. May 20, 1844; m. Rufus Bickford ; settled in Michigan. Dorcas P., b. Dec. 22, 1847; 
m. Isaac Libby; settled in Cambridge. 

Ebenezer, son of Abner, m. Hannah White, of Parsonsfleld, Nov. 25, 1806; had quite 
a numerous family; his sons, George and Eben, settled in town, both dead. Have 
no further trace of the family. 



Jeremiah Leavitt, of Hampton, b. Sept., 1780; m. Margarette Libby about 1811; 
settled in Parsonsfleld; d. Nov, 25, 1839; wife d. July 10, 1831; had children : Thomas, 
John, Ira, Joseph, Newell, Uriah, Jeremiah, Mary A., and Alonzo. Thomas,^ b. 
June 29, 1812; m. Susan Merrill, of Freedom; d. June 13, 1833; has son George, 
resident on home place. John,'^ b. Aug. 1813; m. Deborah Parks; d. DdC. 11, 1876; no 
children. Ira,^ b. October, 25, 1816; d. July 16, 1836. Joseph,* b. March 11, 1818; 
drowned at Cape Cod, Sept. 11, 1846. Newell,^ b. Feb. 14, 1820; m. 1st, Abby Hobbs, 
July 14, 1850; m. 2d, Lizzie Berry, of Freedom, Feb. 21, 1853; d. Dec. 16, 1884; left 
three sons, two living, Charles S. and Henry W. ; Charles S. m. Annie WooSsorae, 
March 18, 1882, has two children, Leon N. and Otto F. Uriah,^ b. Feb. 2, 1822; na. 
Sarah Tuttle, of Effingham; d. at Andover, Mass., Jan. 24, 1856; had two sons, Frank 
W. and Charles U. Jeremiah,^ b. June, 1824; m. Etta Barker, of Campton, N. H. ; d. 
March 29, 1869, at Brockton, Mass.; left one daughter, Addie B. Mary A.,^ b. July, 
1826; m. Ira A. Clough, June, 1858; d. March 23, 1859. Alonzo,^ b. July 7, 1830; m. 
Emma Derby, of Boston; and had seven children, one living. Jereraiafii married for 
second wife, Sarah Chase; had one son, Isaac,i° now a resident of Newfield, and 
Arthur!^ ajitj Maria, 12 both dead; Isaac m. Emily Smith, of Wakefield, and has two 
daughters. 

LIBBY. 

Isaac Libby, son of Tobias, b. in Porter, Sept. 5, 1809; moved to Parsonsfleld, March 
1, 1854; m. Roxanna Towle, April 8, 1833; two children: Sarah A., b. Oct. 17, 1834; m. 
Abner K. Gibbs, of Porter, July 3, 1854. Nehemiah T., b. Sept. 20, 18:37; m. Reliance 
Churchill,- Feb. 21, 1860; d. May 23, 1887. Nehemiah had two children: Emma A., b. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 385 

Nov. 2, 1862, m. O. F. Wiggin, Jan. 30, 1887, Wiggin died July 4, 1887; and Walter D., 
b. Nov. 8, 1864. 

LOMBAKD. 

John Lombard m. Mary Wentwoith, of Wakefield, daughter of Pbineas; settled on 
Fogg farm; had three daughters: Susan, wife of Oscar Burnham, of Limerick. 
Estelle, wife of Arthur Doe, of Parsonsfield, and Ada, wife of Clintou Gliddeu, of 
Boston, 



The descendants in this country claim that three brothers, Abram, Nathan and 
John represent the parent stock. George Lord, the first settler in Parsonsfield, 
descended from Nathan; was the son of Samuel and Lydia (Wallingford) Lord, b. in 
Berwick, Me., Oct. 19, 1764; m. Patience Hobbs, of Hampton, N. H., March 1, 1789; 
came to Parsonsfield, April, 1799, and settled at what is now known as Lord's Mills; 
d. July 11, 1811; wife d. May 19, 1816; had children: 1, Samuel, Mary, Morris, Lydia, 
George W., Isaac, Sarah, Frederick, Louisa T., Betsey. Samuel, b. Dec. 4, 1789; m. 
Ist, Nancy Neal, Jan. 4, 1811; 2d, Lydia Neal, March 24, 1812; 3d, Eunice H. Knight, 
March 4, 1835 ; by his second wife he had two children, Samuel and Lydia. both 
reside in the west; by his third wife, two, Edwin and Carrie; Carrie died in early life, 
Edwin E. m. Rose Nutter, and had two children, Delle and Minnie, Minnie is living 
with her parents on the homestead farm of George; Samuel d. Nov. 15, 1862. 2, Mary, 
b. Feb. 4, 1792 ; m. John L. Marston ; had one daughter, Betsey, the wife of Joshua 
Meloon, of Effingham. N. IL ; d. Feb. 14, 1881. 3, Morris, b. Sept. 29, 1794; m. Abigail 
Colcord ; d. Sept. 25, 1849. 4, Lydia, b. Aug. 3, 1796; d. Oct. 15, 1818, 5, George W., b. 
Nov. 3, 1799; m. Sally Sweat, May 23, 1825; moved to Buxton; his son, A. K. P., there 
resides; d. April 4, 1864. 6, Isaac, b. April 25, 1801 ; ra. Hannah Redman, Oct. 26, 
1826; had four daughters and one sou, who lived to maturity; d. Nov. 6, 1855, 
7, Sarah, b. Aug. 23, 1803; d. Sept. 16, 1823. 8, Frederick, b. July 9, 1806; m. Lydia 
Leavitt, of Effingham; d, Nov, 29, 1846. 9, Louisa T., b. Sept, 4, 1808; m. James 
Leavitt, Nov. 11, 1852. 10, Betsey W., b. March 3, 1811; m. 1st, Leander Doane, had 
one son, George, now a resident of Effingham; m. 2d, Amos Dutton ; d. April 3, 1885. 
Ammi R. Lord, also a descendant of Nathan, sou of Ammi R. W. and Mary Lord, 
b. in Limerick, Me., April 4, 1778, thrice married; m. 1st, Mary Durgin, 1801; 2d, Dru- 
silla. Lord, of Freedom; 3d, Mercy Whitten, of Cornish; had a nnmerous family; 
settled in Parsonsfield, in 1801; d. May 1, 1864. Among his children are the follow- 
ing: 1, Arthur, b. June, 1802; d. June 7, 1826, 2, Louis, b. May 6, 1804; m. Eliphalet 

Pease ;d. . 3, Isaac, b. Dec. 19, 1805; went to Wisconsin; m. Emmeline Morton. 

4, Ammi R., b. Aug. 8, 1807; d. June 29, 18:32. 5, Simeon, b. March 16, 1809; m. Annah 
Lord; d. Sept. 30, 1880. 6, Cyrus K., born June 10, 1811 ; m. Abby S. Clark, Jan. 6, 
1836; resides at La Crosse, Wis. ; lawyer. 7, Julia A., b. Nov. 17, 1818; ra. Daniel 
Lord, son of Nathaniel; has several children. 8, Edmund, b. Aug. 13, 1821; d. June 
21, 1848. By his second wife, Woodbury and Caroline, residents of Wisconsin, and 
Martin Luther, who died early. By his third wife, two now living, Martha, the wife 
of Daniel Baker, and Abby, the wife of John Colby Foss, of Parsonsfield. 
25 



386 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

LOUGEE. 

John Lougee, fi-om the Isle of Jersey; born about 1700; settled at Exeter, N". H. 
His grandsous, Gilman, Samuel and John, settled in Parsonsfield early as 1779. They 
were sous of John and Mary Lougee, born in Gilmanton. Gilman was b. Sept. 15, 
17.58 m. Joanna Smith, of Brentwood, N. H., 1775 ; was killed by a falling stone 
while at work in a clay pit, Sept. 29, 1788; wife d. March 21, 1831 ; had four children: 
1, Susanna, b. Jan. 4, 1781 ; m. John Bennett. 2, Gilman, b. May 12, 1783 ; m. Mary 
Buzzell, Aug. 19, 1810. 3, Hugh Bartis, b. 1785; moved to Salem. 4, Joanna, b. 1788; 
m. Jonathan Watson. 

Issue of Gilman and Mary (Buzzell) Lougee: — 1, Mary, b. Aug. 11, 1811 ; m. Augustits 
Wentworth. 2, Joanna, b. Jan., 1813; m. Samuel Eastman, of Cornish; has one son. 
3. Ann B., b. Feb. 1815; d. 1810. 4, Gilman, b. Jan., 1817; m. Elmira B, Richardson 
(see page 280). 5, Susan B., b. Aug., 1821 ; m. D. W. C. Merrill; has one son, Fred 

Merrill; d. . 6, Julia, b. Aug., 1823; m. Marshall Peirce, of Saco. 7, Albion K. 

P., b. Nov. 17, 1827; m. 1st, Maiy Thurston; 2d, Orinda Morrill, of Limerick. 8, 
ClarindaS. b. June 7, 1829; m. Thomas Brown. 

The children of Gilman* were; i, Juliett, b. May 28, 1842; m. Ansel Hawkes. ii, 
Mary A., b. Sept. 20, 1843; m. Stephen A. Hussey. iii, Amelia, b. June 7, 1845; m. 
Nathaniel Hussey. iv, Delphiua, b. Feb. 28, 1847; m. Dr. Osborn G. Lord, v, Hugh 
B., b. Dec. 22, 1848; m. Anuah Eastman, daughter of Timothy Eastman and great- 
great great-granddaughter of Thomas Paisons, Esq. vi, Loui.'>a R., b. Jan. 8, 1851; 
m. 1st, Simeon P. Genish; 2d, Samuel Garland, son of Ira Garland, vii, David G., 
b. May 28, 1858; m. Almira L. Fogg. 



David Marston, a descendant of William, and son of Col. David Marston, of Hamp- 
ton, was among the first settlers in Parsonsfield ; b Feb. 5, 1756 ; m. Mary Page, 1782; 
d. Jan. 29, lb35 ; wife d. Dec. 17,1847 ; had children : 1, David, b. March 23, 1783; m. 
Betsey Giddings, 1804; had six children, Elizabeth, John, David, Mary, Abigail, Han- 
nah ; resided in Ossipee ; d. April 3, 1860. 2, Abigail, b. Feb. 23, 1786; m Eben Mars- 
ton, 1808; had five children; settled in Tamworth; d. Jan. 26, 1866, 3, Mary, b. Jan. 
25, 1787; m. Jonathan Ayer, 1808; had eight children; resided in Lowell; d. April, 
18-55. 4, Levi, b. Oct. 23, 1787; m. Sally Page, 1815; resided in Parsonsfield ; had five 
children, Mary, John, Sally, Levi, Elizabeth; d. June. 1868. 5, Anna, b. June 6, 1792; 
m. Andrew Page, 1816; resided at South Parsonsfield; had seven children, Jacob, 
Lucinda, Mary, Isaac, Alonzo, Amanda, Lucinda2d. 6, Jacob, b. Oct. 16, 1794; d. 
Sept., 1796. 7, Betsey, b. April 28, 1797; m. Jeremiah Marston, 1844; resided in 
Newfield; d. Feb. 14, 1863. 8, Jacob, b. April 16, 1799; m. Martha Doe; had twelve 
children, Jobn, Abigail, David, Comfort, Oran, Ira, Elizabeth, George, Maria, Jacob, 
Frank, Bennett; d. Jan. 29, 1853. 9, Ruth, b. Dec. 6, 1801; d. Nov., 1803. 

Caleb, brother of David, and son of Col. David, b. Oct. 8, 1760; m. Rachel Garland, 
Oct. 9, 1784; d. March 18, I808; resident at West Parsonsfield ; had children: i, Joseph, 
unmarried, ii, Hannah, m. Jeremiah Marston. iii, Simon, m. Safronia Sanborn; had 
seven children, Julia, Hannah, Mary, Judith, Jane, Emma, Charles, iv, Sally, m. Mason 
Dorr; had five children, Sarah, Simon, Abigail, William, Lewis, v, Caleb, m. Huldah, 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 387 

Rollins; had eight children, Lucinda, Simon, Sarah, Amos, Silas, Rachel, Hannah 
Lewis. All of the above family left town early. 



1, John Merrill, b. in Newbury. Mass. ; came to Parsonsfield in 1794; m. Mary Mills 
in 1803; had one son and seven daughters; d. 1856. i, Sarah, b. Aug. 9, 1804; m. 

Simon Brown, jr. ; d. ; had five children, ii, Rebecca, b. Oct. 0, 1807; m. Henry 

Merrill; had one child Paul (see page 152); d. Aug. 25, 1835. iii, Mary, b. July 23, 
1809; m. Dr. William B. Pike, of Cornish; four children, iv, Mehitable, b. April 4, 
1812; d. Dec. 30, 1838. v, Abigail, b. March 16, 1816; m. Richard Horn; d. Sept. 1, 
1840. vi, Cynthia, b. June 23, 1818; m. Richard Horn; had one child; m. 2d, Albert 
Bachelder; had three children, vii, John Jay (see page 276). viii, Annette, b. June 
30, 1823; m. Rev. D. H. Lord, Nov. 7, 1348; three sons. 

Stephen Merrill came from Newbury to Parsonsfield, in 1791 (probably a relative of 
the above); b. 1755; m. Anna Bailey, 1777; children: 1, Anna, 2, Stephen T., 3, David, 
4, Mary, 5, Betsey, 6, Henry, 7, Sally, all settled in Parsonsfield. 

Issue of llenry", Stephen^:— Henry m. 1st, Isabel Morrill ; 2d, Aurelia Pray. 7, i, 
Henry; 8, ii, Nancy; 9, iii, Julia, by first wife. By second wife, 10, iv, John; 11, v, 
Robert; 12, vi, Isabelle. Henry,^ b. Sept. 19, 1820; m. Diantha P. Parks, May 17, 1848; 
had three children: i, Mary A., b. March 22, 1849, m. Ervin Pike, of Cornish, Feb. 7, 
1867, has one son Carroll; ii, George P., b. Aug. 24, 1850, ra. Jennie L. King, Aug. 30, 
1876, has one son Ralph ; iii, Vesta, b. May 22, 1853,ra. E. I. Towle, of Freedom, Feb. 
22, 1872, has one child. Nancy ,» b. Dec. 26, 1822; m. Stephen Stanley, Dec. 30, 1841 ; 
one son Frank; she d. May 9, 1864. -Julia A.,^ b. Nov. 19, 1831; m. 1st, John Stanley, 
Feb. .5. 1853; 2d, Timothy Eastman; has two children. John.i^ b. Feb. 11, 18:34; m. 
Vesta Conner, daughter of Jesse Conner, May 23, 18.55 ; three sons, Herbert, John 
H. and Wesley F. Robert," b. May 13, 18:^6; m. Sarah E. Allen, March, 1859; chil- 
dren, Frederick, Arthur and Mabel. Isabel,!^ b. April, 1838; m. Albion Towle, of 
Freedom, N. H. 

Stephen,^ son of Stephen,^ has one son John, a resident of Parsonsfield. 

MOtTLTOK. 

William Moulton was born in Norfolk County, England, 1617, and came to New- 
bury, Mass., in 1637. Samuel, fifth in descent from him, son of Samuel and Mary 
Ordway, was born June 14, 1753; m. Hannah Noyes; settled at South Parsonsfield, 
Dec. 25,1786; d. Dec. 25, 1837; wife d. Oct. 30, 1815; had eight children, viz. : 1, Ann ; 2, 
Polly; 3, Samuel; 4, William; 5, Joseph; 6, Hannah ; 7, Sally; 8, Abigail. 2, i, Anna. b. 
Sept. 24, 1777; m. 1st, Samuel Moultou; 2d, James Bradbury; d. March 22, 1835. 3, ii, 
Polly, m. Richard Campbell ; d. Aug. 22, 1835. 4, iii, Samuel, b. March 18, 1780; m. 1st, 
Sally Davis, Oct. 26, 1800; 2d, Hannah Lord, March 21, 1812; d. March 22, 1871. 5, iv, 
William, b. 1782; m. Margaret Stevens; d. Oct. 11, 1860. 6, v, Joseph, b. 1787; d. Oct. 
13, 1813. 7, vi, Hannah, b. 1789; d'. Dec. 2, 1836. 8, vii, Sally, b. 1793, in Parsonsfield: 
d. Oct. 10, 1813. 9, viii, Abigail, b. 1795; ra. Moses Davis, of Parsonsfield; d. May 31, 
1851. Ann,2 ra. 1st, Samuel Moulton, son of Cutting, 1798; had two children, 10, i, 
Alvah and U, ii, Clarissa, died in infancy; m. 2d, Dr. James Bradbury, Nov. 12, 1800; 



SS'S HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

had three children, 12, iii, James W. (see sketch page 250), 13, iv, Samuel (see sketch 
page 301). 14, v, Clarigsa, m. Charles G. Pars-ons (see page 144). 

Issue of Samuel,* SamueU: — 1.5, i, Hannah, b. Dec. 25, 1801 ; d. July 26, 1860. 16, ii, 
Charles, b. May 12, 1803; m. Lovina Knowles, Dec. 13, 1832; d. June 3, 1855; wife 
d. 1887. 17, iii, Samuel, b. July 17, 1805; m. Cyrena Kuowles, Oct., 1826; d. Feb. 19, 
1875. 18, iv, George, b. April, 1807; m. Jane Day, Nov. 18 50. 19, v, Silas, b. Sept. 13, 
1809. m. 1st, Louisa Merrill, 1834; 2d, Patience Lord, Sept. 11, 1856; d. May 5, 1869. 
20, vi, Sally, b. Sept. 1, 1811; d. Dec. 25, 1860. 21, vii, Joseph, b. Nov. 8, 1816; m. 
Judith Moulton, Nov. 7, 1839. 22, viii, Wentworth L., b. Oct, 6, 1818 ; m. Sarah A. 
Benson, Sept., 1839; d. March 23, 1881. 2.3, ix, Isaac M., b. March 25, 1822; m. Betsey 
L. Frost, Feb. 6, 1851. 

Issue of Alvah,!" Ann,2 SamueU (see page 139): — i, Ann B., m. John C. Dore, of 
Chicago, ii, Louisa F., m. "Warren Nickerson, Boston, iii, Ferdinand, settled in 
Washington; d. Aug. 13, 1866. iv, Maria A., m. Henry A. Jackson, Boston, v, Clar- 
issa B., m. Daniel O. Quiiiby, New York; d. Nov. 30, 1882, vi, Alvah D., resides in 
California, vii, James B., resided in San Francisco; d. June 21, 1861. viii, George 
F., a resident of Newburyport, Mass. ix, Henry W., also a resident of Newburyport. 
X, Sarah E., m. Charles H. Dore, of Boston, xi, Mary E., m. Amos T. Tovvle, of Bos- 
ton, xii, C;harles E., resided in Chicago; d. in Newburyport, Nov. 18, 1869. 

Issue of Charles,!^ Samuel,* SamueU: — i, Hannah, ra. Richard Eastman, ii, Harriet 
P.,b. 18.35; d, 1860. iii, Maria B., b. 1839; d. 18-54. iv, Charles, b. 1846; d. 1847. 
V, Charles 3d, b. 1849; m. Mary E. Fenderson, 1871; had four children, two living, 
Melinda and Charles L. 

Issue of Samuel," Samuel,* SamueP: — i, David, d. . ii, Sally, m. John Boothby; 

resides in Parsonsfield; has one son, Samuel, iii, Axa, d. . iv, John, m. ; a 

resident of Aroostook County. Edwin M., m. Miss Gilpatrick, of Limerick; d. 1885; 
left one daughter. 

Issue of Silas, 13 Samuel,* SamueU: — i, Rebecca M., b. 18.35; m. Samuel Boothby, 
1851; d. 1857; left two sons, Silas M. and Joseph; Silas m. and resides on the home- 
stead of Joseph Boothby, has two children; Joseph m. Eva Churchill, had one 
daughter; Mrs. Boothby d., and he removed to Florida, ii, George, b. 1837; m. Eliza 
A. Moulton, 1863; has three daughters and one son; resides in Limerick, iii, Salome 
K., b. 1840; m. Daniel Wentworth, of Porter, 1866. iv, Alviu C, b. 1844; m. Emily J. 
Randall, 1868; d. 1880. By his 2d wife: v, Bennetts., b, 18.57; m. Ada F. Moulton, 
1878; has one daughter, Nellie, vi, Sarah L., b. 1859; d. 1878. 

Issue of Joseph^i (Samuel,* Samuel^) : — i, Susan E., b. 1840; m. Lorenzo Moulton, 1860. 
ii, Emily B., b. 1842; m. Irving Nasou, 1875. iii, Eliza A., b. 1844; m. George Moulton, 
1863, sou of Silas.i^ iv, Charles C, b. 1844; m. Grace McLean, 1884; resides in Par- 
sonsfield. V, Alvah O., b. 1848; m. Ella Bean, 1886 (see page 70). vi, John F., b. 18.50; 
m. Mattie Parsons, 1874 (see page 154). vii, Frank P., b. 1851 ; m. R. Emma White, 
1881 (seepage 70). viii, Henry D., b. 1853; m, Nellie A. Roberts, 1882; resides on hoqie 
place, ix, Mary P., b. 1857; m. Joseph H. Roberts, of Parsonsfield, 1884. x, Elisha 
W., b. 1859; d. 1871. 

Issue of Wentworth h.-^ (Samuel,* SamueP) :— i, Jane, b. 1840. ii, George W., b. 1842 ; 
m. Phoibe P. Hill, 18:37. iii, Emily A., b. 1844; d. 1866. iv, James B., b. 1847, resides 
in Parsonsfield. v, Albert R., b. 18^2; m. Ida M. Hoppiu (see page 155.) 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 389 

Issue of Isaac-^ (Samuel,* SamueP) : — i, Noyes, b. 1852; tn. Jessie N. Cuirie, 1873. 
ii, Anna M., b. 1854; ra. James G. Fendersou, 1875; bas tbree cbildren. iii, Abby S., b. 
1857; m. Josepb G. Clinkaicl, 1874. iv, Nettie, b. 1863; m. Howard B. Ueuderson, 1887. 
V, Leonard F., b. 1870. 

Cuttinji Moulton,'^'' a brotlier of Samuel, ^ came witb him to Parsonsfleld in 1776, b. 
July 25, 1748, in Newbury; m. 1st, Mary Merrill; 2d, Judith Emery; d. 1809. Issue:— 

25, i, Samuel, b. 1775; m. Anna'-; d. May 2, 1800; had son, Alvah.i'' By Juditb Emery: 

26, ii, William, b. July 28, 1785; m. Mary Pearl, 1804; d. May 1, 1875. 27, iii, John, b. 

Nov. 5, 1786; ra. Hannah Foster; d. . 28, iv, Cutting, b. June 14, 1788; m. Lydia, 

daughter of Rev. Wentworth Lord; d. March 22, 1854. 29, v, Polly, b. Sept. 7, 1789; d. 
April 7, 1856. 30, vi, Joseph, b. Nov. 6, 1791; m. Ruth Messer, and 2d, Polly Barker; 
d. 1864. 31, vii, David, b. July 27, 1793; m. Sally Wetherby, xMay 5, 1817; d. Oct. 1, 

1868. .32, viii, , b. Oct. 8, 1794; d. 1873. 33, ix, Nathan, b. Feb. 2, 1796; m. Mary 

Edgerly; d. Dec. 20, 1874. 

Issue of William'^« (Cuttiug^ij :_34, i, Clarissa, b. Sept. 26, 1805; m. Mavston Ames, 
of Ossipee; had six children. 35, ii, Samuel, b. June 11, 1807 ; m. Nancy Towle, daugh- 
ter of Jabez Towle. 36, iii. Cutting, b. April 19, 1810; m. Mary Towle; d. Sept. 17, 1886. 
37, iv, William E., b. March 19, 1813; m. Priscilla Towle, Nov. 80, 1837. 38, v, Judith, 
b. July 19, 1817; m. Joseph Moulton-i; d. Oct. 17, 1886. 39, vi, Catherine, b. Dec. 11, 
1820; m. Currier. 

Issue of Nathan'*-^ (Cutting^*) :— i, Lorenzo, b. Oct. 7, 1830; m. Susan E. Moulton, Nov. 
29, 1860; has one daugbter, Ina May, b. Sept. 2, 1867; lost two. ii, Martha J., b. Sept. 
5, 1832; d. Sept. 7, 1865. iii, Mary A., b. Oct. 23, 1834; m. Eben G. Perry, Jan. 1, 1865; 
bas two sons, iv, Eli, b. 1836; d. 1843. v, Hannah, b. April 22, 1839; m. Tristram H. 
Tucker, 1873; has two daughters. 

Issue of SamuePs (VVilliam,-^ Cutting^*) :— i, David 0.,b. 1830; m. Mehitable P. Worm- 
wood, 1856; has four children, i, Clarence, b. 1875, ra. Eda J. Brown, has three children, 
Eda, Hazel and Jennie; ii, Willis B., b. 1862; iii, Margie E., b. 1870; iv, David E., b. 
1871. ii, George J., b. 1832; m. Fannie M. Bride, 1865; has three children, Annie, 
George and Sadie, iii, Mary A., b. 18:33; m. Ivory B. Weeks ; d. 1882. iv, John H., b. 
1835; d. 1837. v, Albion T., b. 1837; d. 18:39. vi, Sarah, b. 18:39. vii, Ann, b. 1840 ; d. 
1858. viii, Hannah, b. 1842 ; d. 1862. ix, Martha, b. 1843; d. 186:3. x, Harriet, b. 1845; 
d. 1851. xi, Lucian D., b. 1840. xii, Melissa, b. 1849. xiii, Wescotfc, b. 1852. 

Issue of William E.^^ (Wiliiam-'e Cutting-*) :— i, Lucy E., m. James G. Perry, Portland; 
has two daughters, ii, Mary E., m. D. H. Hill, of Sandwich, has two children, Walter 
and Bertha, iii, Alonzo P., m. Mary E. Towle ; has three children living, Genevra, 
Alonzo, Marshall ; d. Aug. IS, 18S6. iv, Ada C, m. Albion K. P. Towle, of Newfield; 
has three children, Fred, Albion, Ada. v, Eva. m. N. W. Colcord. vi, Clara P., in. 
John B. Lord ; has daughter, Katy. vii, Hattie A. 

MUDGETT. 

(See page .337.) 
It is claimed by his descendants that Simeon Mudgett was the first to settle in Par- 
sonsfleld, a descendant of one John Mudgett, who came from England to Brentwood, 
N. H. Simeon,! was b. Jan. 7, 1768, in Gilmanton, N. H. ; m. Dorothy Edgerly, Nov. 
26, 1789; d. Nov. 26, 1815; wife d. March 14, 1852; six children: 2, i, Sally, b. July 3, 



390 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

1791 ; m. Elliot Fernald ; d. 1S82. 3, ii, David, b. May 18, 1794 ; ra. Salome Merrill, March 
12, 1818 ; d. Feb. 14, 1879. 4, iii, John, b. April 21, 1796; m. Ziporah Dearboru, daughter 
of Capt. Jacob Dearborn; d. 1866. 5, iv, Judith, b. 1800; d. early. 6, v, Dorothy, b. 

Feb. 7, 1804; m, Joseph Sanborn, of Waterboro, July 9, 1840. 7, vi, Mary, b. ; 

m. Daniel Oilman; resides in Newport. 

Issue of David^ (Simeon^) :— 8, i, Simeon (see page 150). 9, ii, Abigail, b. Jan. 8, 1823; 
m. Hardy Merrill, April 5, 1843. 10, iii, Hardy M., b. Sept. 28, 182(5; m. Sarah F. Chap- 
man, March 4, 1855. 11, iv, Harriet E., b. Oct. 4, 1832; m. 1st, Henry Keunison ; 2d, 
Ira A. Philbrick; 3d, B. F. Pease. 12, v, Sarah K., b. Jan. 28, 1836; m. Frank S. Carr, 
June 12, 1856. Simeon,^ physician, has four children: i, Millard; ii, Hattie A.; 
iii, W. D. ; iv, D. H, Abigail had three children, two living, David and Hardy Lorin. 
Hardyi'^ has two children, Lewis and Lucille. Hari-iet^i has one chilJ, Arthur H. 
Kennison. Sarah^'- has three children, Fred, Nellie and Alton. 

Issue of John* (Simeon^) :-i, Simeon D. m. Ilebecca Trueworthy. ii, Mary E., m. 
Eben Day, of Limerick, iii, Jacob D., m. Dorcas Young ; resides in Lynn, iv, John 
m. Lydia Elliot; resides in Parsonsfield. v, Dorothy m. Tracy Hewes, of Saco. 
vi, Ada A., m. Fogg. 

Issue of Dorothy^ (Simeon^): — i, Mary E. ; ii, John F. has one son Joseph. 

Issue of Mary" (Simeon'): — 1, Simeon; ii, Sarah; iii, John; iv, David T. ; v, Viola. 



(See page 312). 

Enoch, b. in Newmarket, 1762; m. Nancy Towle, 1788; d. in Parsonsfield, June 22, 
1817; wife d. Dec. 23, 1840; children: 1, Betsey, b. April 20, 1790; m. Daniel Knapp, 
Jan. 8, 1816; d. in Parsonsfield, Jan. 22, 1842. 2, Joshua, b. Jan. 5, 1792 ; m. Mary Wedg- 
wood; had two children, Enoch W. m. ; d. . Elizabeth, d. . 3, 

Sally, b. July 18, 17i'5; m. Josiah Wedgwood; resided in Parsonsfield; d. . 4, 

Oliver, b. Aug. 22, 1797; lived in Tuftenboro, N. H. 5, Enoch, b. Dec. 16, 1803; m. 
Nancy Lord, daughter of Richard; d. ; had five sous and one daughter. 6, Na- 
thaniel, b. July 26, 1800; m. Miss Folsom; living in Tuftenboro. 7, Nancy, b. Jan. 17, 
1814; d. in Parsonsfield. 

Issue of Enoch^: — i, Lorenzo, d. . ii, Enoch, m. Sarah Morrill; d. ; left one 

son and one daughter, iii, Edgar m. Matilda Hodsdon; resides in Boston, iv, Luther 
m. Eveline Rumery, of Effingham, daughter of John, resides in P. Has been one of 
its municipal officers several years, a man highly respected; has one son Charles, who 
m. Miss Leavitt, and they have a son. v. John m. Miss Lord; re-^ides in Parsonsfield; 
had three children, one son, Herbert (see page 156), one son resides with father, and 
daughter d. 1887. vi, Charles d. in Parsonsfield. vii, Daughter, d. . 



Charles O. Nute came from Ossipee to Parsonsfield in 1846; b. 1831; m. Sally, 
daughter of Samuel Weeks; has two sons: i, John A., b. 1857; m. daughter of Alvin 
Eastman, and has one child; merchant at East Parsonsfield. ii, Charles, b. 1800; mer- 
chant at East Parsonsfield. Mr. C. O, Nute has been town treasurer for many years 
and is a correct business man and an upright citizen. 



nSTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 39! 



the southwestern part of the town ; m. Polly Quint, and 
2, Ann; 3, Olive; 4, Joshua; 5, Mary; (3, Emily; 7, Clara. 

n, m. Shortridge; d. . Olive, m. Mr. Goudy; 

Martha Perkins and resides in town; has a family of 
I, Edwin, Elizabeth A., Belle, , Ida, Laura, Fred 



mntry was William Palmer. The first set- 
in Rye, N. H. ; he married Mehitable 
Sally; 4, Mehitable; 5, William; 
' ""^""mpton; had four chil- 
' •" b. 1800; 



390 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD 

1791 ; m. Elliot Fernald ; d. 1S82. 3, ii, David, b. May 18, 1794 
12, 1818; d. Feb. 14, 1879. 4, iii, John, b. April 21, 1796; m. Zi 
of Capt. Jacob Dearborn; d. 1866. 5, iv, Judith, b. 1800; 
Feb. 7, 1804; m. Joseph Sanborn, of Waterboro, July 9, li 
m. Daniel Gilraan; resides in Newport. 

Issue of David^ (Siraeoni): — 8, i, Simeon (see page 150). 
m. Hardy Merrill, April 5, 1843. 10, iii, Hardy M., b. Sep 
man, March 4, 1855. 11, iv, Harriet E., b. Oct. 4, 1832 ; 
Ira A. Philbrick; .3d, B. F. Pease. 12, v, Sarah K., b. J 
June 12, 1856. Simeon,^ physician, has four chil^' 
iii, W. D. ; iv, D. H. Abigail had three children. ' 
Hardy 1" has two children, Lewis and Lucill' 
Kennison. Sarah^'^ has three children, Fr 

Issue of John* (Simeon^):-!, Simf- 
Eben Day, of Limerick, iii ^ 
ni. Lydia Elliot- '•'^ 
vi * 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 39^ 

NUTTER. 

Thomas Nutter settled in the southwestern part of the town; m. Polly Quint, and 
had children, 1, Elizabeth; 2, Ann; 8, Olive; 4, Joshua; 5, Mary; (J, Emily; 7, Clara. 

Elizabeth, died young. Ann, m. Shortridge; d. . Olive, m. Mr. Goudy; 

resides in Saco. 4, Joshua m. Martha Perkins and resides in town; has a family of 

three sons and five daughters, Edwin, Elizabeth A., Belle, . Ida, Laura, Fred 

and . 

PAI.MER. 

The ancestor who first settled in this country was William Palmer. The first set- 
tler in Parsonsfield was also a William, born in Rye, N. H. ; he married Mehitable 
Blazo; had six children, 1, Joshua; 2, Richard; 3, Sally; 4, Mehitable; 5, William; 
6, John. 1, Joshua was b. in 1775; m. Jemima Dearborn, of Hampton; had four chil- 
dren, i, William W., b. 1778, m. Mitty Wiggin, had five children; ii, Joshua, b. ISdO; 
iii, Nancy, b. 1803, and iv. True worthy D.,b. 1806. 3, Sally m. Joseph Champion. 
4, Mehitable m. William Stewart, iv, Trueworthy D., m. Eliza Snell, of Eaton; had 
six children: i, Harriet M., m. G. K. Murray, ii, Franklin T., m. Annie Hoyt. 
iii, Joshua D., m. Emma Roberts, iv, Charles E., m. Emma Hoyt. v, Mary A , m. 
Asa Bean, vi, Martha E., m. Charles Littlefield. Franklin and Charles reside in 
Mass Joshua. D., on the homestead. The three enlisted and served through the war. 

PARKS. 

This family first came from Ireland. The first settler in this town was Joseph 
Parks. He m. Lydia Kennison; had twelve children: Polly,^ died young. Thomas^ 
married and settled in Edding, Me. John,^ died young. Joseph," died unmarried. 
Betsey,5 m. Nathan Fenderson. Eunice,^ unmarried. Eliphalet R.,'^ was b. 1793; d. 
July, 1861 ; m. Abigail M. Parsons. Lydia,« unmarried. Richard H.,^ ra. Margaret 
Thompson ; both dead. Asa,w m. Mary Piukery ; both dead. Mary," m. John Forbes ; 
both dead. Deborah,!^ m. John Leavitt. 

Issue of Eliphalet R.-:-i, Mary Ann, b. June 8, 1816; m. 1st, Rufus Milhken ; 2d, 
Tristram Storer; 3d, Thomas Richardson, ii, Edwin R., b. Nov., 1823; m. Clarissa 
Moore; d. Nov. 15, 1859. iii, Diaatha P., b. Sept. 5, 1826; m. Henry Merrill, May 17, 1848. 
iv, OrriviUe A., b. April 19, 1829; m. Alpheus Hilton; d. Jan. 20, 1877. v, Orlando T., 
b. June 7, 1831 (see " Poets of Parsoiisfield " Part V) ; m. Mary Burbauk ; she d. Jan. 
17, 1867, and he m. Susie Lougee ; he d. Dec. 11, 1880. vi, John Arthur, b. May 20, ISSo ; 
m. Lucy Saywaid ; had one child, vii, Ellen O., b. Jan., 1840 ; m. Sylvester Doe. 

PARSONS. 
(See pages 340 to 350.) 
Thomas,! b. Sept. 18, 17.35 ; m. 1st, 1757, to Anna Poor ; 2d, 1785, to Lucy Bradbury ; 
d 1811- 1st wife d. 1783; 2d, 1811; children: 2, i, Thomas (page 242). 3, ii. Stephen, b. 
1760- d.l764. 4, iii, Joseph, b. 1762; m. 1st, Lydia Lord. 1785; 2d, Abigail Adams 
1800. 5,iv,Enoch,b. 1764; d- 1782. 6, v, Stephen, b. 1766; m. Abigail Moore, of 
Stratham, N. H., 1787 ; d. Sept. 6. 1836. 7, vi, Nancy, b. 1769 ; m. 1st, Josiah Pease ; 2d, 



392 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Holmes; d. . 8, vli, John Usber, b. 1771; m. Mrs. Susan Savory, of Kenne- 

bunk, in 1803; d. Oct. 13, 182.5. 9, viii, Sai.ih, b. 1773; m* 1st, Asa Pease, of Newmar- 
ket; 2d, John Leavitt; d. , 10, ix, Mary, b. 1775; m. Mnj. John Leavitt, of Effing- 
ham ; d. Dec. 20, 1856. Children by second wife: 11, x, Elizabeth Usher, b. 1787; m- 
Luther Emerson; d. Oct. 11, 1857. 12, xi, Siuan, b. 1788; m. Richard F. Dow, of 
Wakefield, 1808; d. Aug. 2, 18.37. 13, xii, Thomas Bradbury (see page 243). 14, xiii. 
Abigail, b. 1790; m. Isaac M. Parker, 1807 ; d. Nov. 20, 1848. 15, xiv, William, b. 1791; 
ni. Sarah S. Dearborn, 1813; d. April 15, 1876. 16, xv, Lucy, b. 1792; m. Isaac B. 
Chesley; d. March, 1884. 17, xvi, Lucinda, b. 1795; d. Jan, 27, 1796. 18, xvii, Sylves- 
ter, 1796; m. Abigail Pickeriug, of Greenland; d. Aug. 7, 1860. 19, xviii, Lucinda, b. 
1798; m. David T. Livy. m.d., of Wolfborough; d. Aug. 31, 1877. 20, xix, Samuel, b. 
1801 ; m. Mary B. Allen, 1828; d. Dec. 22, 1869. 

Joseph* had children : 21, i, Anna, b. 1786. 22, ii, Joseph, b. 1788; d. . 23, iii, 

Lydia. 24, iv, Mary. 25, v, Joseph, b. 1794; d. 1815. 26, vi, Sally, b. 1796; d. 1872. 27, 
vii. Pamelia, b. 1798; d. 1848. By second wife: 28, viii, Hannah, b. 1801. 29, ix, Catherine, 
b. 1803; m. David Garland ; d. 1831. 30, x, Patty Poor, b. 1805; m. Dr. Pease; d. 1832. 
31, xi, Charles G. (see page 144). 32, xii, Miranda, b. 1807; m. David Garland; d. 1864. 
33, xiii, Sukey, b. 1811 ; d. 1812. 34, xiv. Susannah, b. 1813; d. 1844. 3.5, xv, Joseph 
A. (see page 145). 36, xvi, Frances U., b. 1818; d. 1883. 



(See pages 260 to 264.) 

Samuel.i b. 1728; m 1750 ; moved to town, 1779; d. 1803; had children: 2, Nathaniel, 
3. May; 4, Joseph; 5, Lucy; 6, Dorothy; 7, Samuel; 8, Elizabeth. 

Samuel,^ sou of Samuel, i b. March 10, 1754; d. Sept. 7, 1834; m. Comfort Marston ; 
known as Mnj. Pease; had six children: 9, Comfort; 10, Nancy; 11, John; 12, Sally; 
13, Asa; 14, Philena. John'^ (Dea.), b. March, 1786, was the only one who settled in 
town ; m. Sally Wiggin, Jan. 26, 1811; d. 1853 ; wife d. 1825. Had children: i, MaryA., 
m. 1st, George Hasty ; had children, Alonzo, John, Emeline and others; ra. 2d, Harvey 
Moore ; resides in Parsonsfield. ii, Sally, m. Samuel Burbank. iii, Olive, b. April 
16, 1816; m. H. G. O. Smith ; d. July, 1863. iv, Lovina, d. young, v, Almira, m. B. H. 
Chapman, vi, John, d. at 24 years of age. 

Mijor Zebulon,!^ was a nephew of Samuel, and son of Nathaniel and Lucy Page 
Pease; came to Parsonsfield, 1784; m. Mary Burleigh; had children: 16, i, Nathaniel, 
b. Sept. 24; 1786; 17, ii, Andrew, b. May 1:^, 178S; 18, iii, Betsey, b. S^pt. 24, 1791 ; 
19, iv, Martha, b. Jan. 20, 1794; 20. v, Zebulon (see page 262). 

Issue of NathanieU'^ Maj. Zebulon^'^: — 21, i, Sophia, b. Oct. 16,1816; ra. Amasa Allen, 
1844; d. Oct. 12, 1866. 22, ii, Mary J., b. Sept. 7, 1818; m. Amasa Doe, 1840; d. July, 
1836. 23, iii, Usher P., b. Jan. 29, 1820; m. liiiiette Williams, 1845 ; resides in Boston; 
has five children, one daughter, Alta, a celebrated singer. 24, iv, Clara T., b. Aug. 31, 
1821; m. Uriah BuUard and resides in Cambridgeport. 25, v, Burleigh (see pages 65 
and 263), 26, vi, Lorenzo D., b. Jan.25, 1825; m, Hannah Gilpatrick, 1862 ; resides on 
homestead of Maj. Zabulou ; has one daughter and three sons. 27, vii, Lizzie W., b. 
Nov. 9, 1826; m, Edward Gordon, 1866; resides in Haverhill, Mass, 28, viii, Roxy S., 
b. March 27, 1828; ra. Hiram C. Walker, 18o6 ; resides in Springfield, 111, 29, ix, John, 
b, Nov, 17, 1829; m, 1st, Sarah R, Shea, May 1, 1854; had children; i, Fred, ii, Frank; 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 393 

iii, Nathaniel; iv, Annie; v, Sarali; vi, Edwin; m. 2d, Olive Frost Hale; resides on 
homestead of Nathaniel. 



The ancestry of Samuel Perry.^ son of James and Annie (Holmes) Perry, is unknown ; 
was b. in Limerick, Me., July 12, 1762; m. Mehitable Peri-y, Nov. 17, 1787; came to 
Parsonsfield, 1792; d. Aug. 29, 1840; wife d. July 27, 1860. 

Children of SaraueU :— 2, i, Susan P., b. June 27, 1790 ; d. June 26, 180.5. .3, ii, Martha 
P., b. June 22, 1792; m. Andrew Philpott; d. Nov. 1873. 4, iii .Mehitable, b. Aug. 27, 
1794; m. 1st, Ivory Morrison; 2d, James Wormwood; d. Dec. 21, 1861. 5, iv, Hannah 
P., b. June 30, 1797; m. John Fenderson; d. May 27, 1818. 6, v, Nathaniel, b. June 3, 
1800; m. Eliza Perkins; d. Sept. 5, 1879. 7, vi, Samuel, b. March 22, 1803; m. 1st, 
Mary Barker; 2d, Mrs. Phebe Davis; d. Sept. 6, 1834. 8, vii, Susan P., b. April 20, 
1806; m. William Pray; d. Aug. 31, 1860. 9, viii, Asenath B., b. Sept. 4, 1809; d. March 
21, 187.5. 10, ix, Mary B., b. June 12, 1812; m. Elkauah Sweat; d. 1887. 11, x, David P., 
b. May 27, 1815 ; m. Eliza Wormwood. 

Children of Martha^ and Andrew Philpott: — 12, i, Samuel ra. Katherine Harmon. 
13, ii, Hannah, ra. Luther Dole. 14, iii, Elmira, m. Allen Berry. 1.5, iv, Susan, m. 
Joseph Harmon. 16, v, Rolins, m. Elmira Bangs. 17, vi, Cyrus, ra. Eunice Bryant. 
18, vii, Mary. 19, viii, Mary Ann. 20, ix, Moses. 21, x, Elkanah, ra. Abbie Haley. 

Children of Mehitable* and Ivory Morrison: — 22, i, Benjamin, m. Sarah Wads- 
worth. 2.3, ii. Ivory, m. Mary Wormwood. 24, iii, Martha, m. Benjamin. Children 
of Mehitable* and James Wormwood: 25, iv, Mehitable, m. David Moulton. 26, v, 
Samuel. 

Hannah^ and John Fenderson had one daughter, 27. i, Hannah, who died in infancy. 

Children of Nathaniel*^ and Eliza Peri-y:— 28, i, Susan E. m. Amos Wormwood. 29, 
ii, Amanda M. ;30, iii, Mary J. m. Edward Grant. 31, iv, Amanda M., m. James G. 
Wormwood. ;32, v, Loviua. 33, vi, Hannah, ra. Frank Rideout. 34, vii, Elmira. 35, 
viii, Eliza, unmarried. 

Children of SamueH and Mary Perry :— 36. 1, Augusta, unmarried. 37, ii, Elizabeth 
m. Eben Littlefield. 38, iii. Barker, m. Delia Moore. 39, iv, Samuel E. 40, v, Lettie 
B., unmarried. 

Children of Susan^ and William Pray: — 41, i, Marcia S. m. Albion Weeks; d. 
1887. 42, ii, Hannah F., m. Irvi-n Mason. 43, iii, Benjamin R., m. 1st, Hannah Moul- 
ton; 2d, Lizzie Hammonds. 44, iv, Osborn J., m. Emma Boynton. 

Children of Mary BV and Elkanah Swutt: — 45, i, Martha P., m. William Bangs. 
46, ii, Louisa, died. 47, iii, Elizabeth, m. Frank Perry. 48, iv, Elkanah S. died. 

Children of David P." and Eliza Pray:— 49, i, Samuel F., b. March 13, 1842; m. 1st, 
Maria J. Brackett, 2d, Dorcas Stone; had one daughter, 50, i, Jennie. 51, ii, David, 
b. April 18, 1814; m. Miranda Pugsley ; one son, 52, i, Clinton D. 53, iii, James W., 
b. April 1, 1852; m. 1st. Clara A. Brooks; 2d, Mary E. Garland; had two sons: 54, i, 
Arthur B. ; .55, ii, George W. 56, iv, Eliza E., b. Oct. 15, 1859 ; m. Charles D. Elliot. 

Martha P.*^ resides in Limerick; has one sou, C. H. Bangs, farmer and teacher. 
Elizabeth" resides in Minneapolis ; has one son. The children of the third genera- 
tion of Samuel number seventy-nine, of the fourth, twenty-four. 



394 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



Genealogy of Elisha Piper and his descendants, who reside, or have resided, in Par- 
sonsfield. 

First Generation. 

(1) Nathaniel,^ b. in England; a farmer ; m. Sarah ; he d. about 1676, in Ipswic^^' 

Mass. She probably died in Wenham, Mass. He came to this country from Dartmouth, 
England, about 1665, and settled in Ipswich. See his children, Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 
10. 

Second Generation. 

(I) Nathaniel^ Piper's children: — 2, i, Sarah,"^ b. ; d. . 3, ii, Nathaniel,^ b. 

June 25, 1658; d. . 4. iii, Josiah,'^ b. Dec. 18, 1661 ; d. — ^. 5, iv, John,- b. ; 

d. . 6, V, Thomas,^ b. Nov. 26, 1666, in Ipswich; m. Grace ; had daughter. 

Patience, b. in Ipswich, Feb. 25, 1702. He d. . 7, vi, Mary,^ b. ; d. . 8, 

vii, Margaret,^ b. ; d. . 9, viii, Samuel,^ grandfather of Elisha Piper, b. June 

12, 1670, in Ipswich ; d. , probably in Stratham, N". H. 10, ix; Jonathan,^ b. , 

in Ipswich; a farmer; m. 1st, Sarah . She d. May 6, 1700, in Ipswich; 2d, Alice 

Darby, published Sept. 21, 1700. He d. May 11, 1752, in Concord, Mass. She d. April 
23, 1758, in Concord. 

Third Generation. 

(9) SamueP Piper's children : — 11, i, Samuel,^ father of Elisha, b. , probably in 

'Stratham, N. H.; d. , probably in Loudon, N. H., to which town he and bis son 

Samuel removed from Stratham. He had ten children. See his sons, Nos. 12, 13, 14. 

Fourth Generation. 

(II) SamueF Piper's children: — 12, i, Johnathau,* b. in 1742, in Stratham ; a farmer; 

m. Olive Light, of Exeter, N. H. ; d. . She d. . They had fourteen children, 

six sons and eight daughters. One, Noah, was a Christian Baptist minister. He lived 
and died in Stratham. 13, ii, Samuel,* b. in Straiham; a farmer; m. Sally Norris, b. 

, d. . He d. , probably in Loudon. They had six sous and three 

daughters. 14, iii, Elisha,* b, June 17, 1746, in Stratham; a farmer; m. 1st, Sarah 
Barker, b. in 1748, probably in Stratham, d. Nov. 13, 1798, in Parsonsfield, Me : 2d, 
Olive Dyer, b. in 1758, in Biddeford, d. April 20, 1808, in Parsonsfield ; 3d, Rosannah 
Dyer, Oct. 3, 18U8, b. July 15, 1767, in Biddeford, d. April 23, 18;39, in Parsonsfield. He 
d. March 10, 1836, in Parsonsfield, where he settled in 1780. He commenced clearing 
his farm in 1779. See their children, Nos. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. 

Fifth Generation. 
(14) Elisha* Piper's children :— 15, i, Suky,^ b. Feb. 15, 1767, in Stratham, N. H. ; m. 
James Remick, Aug. 30, 1788, b. about 1764, in Kittery; she died about 1791, in 
Parsonsfield. His second wife was Anna Haynes, b. in 1764, in Waterborough ; d. 
April 8, 1848, in Bangor, where she resided with her step-daughter, Susau (Remick) 
Clarke. He resided in Parsonsfield, on the North road, near the Mighels place, now 
owned by Samuel Bartlett. He died about 1822, in Parsonsfield. Have not been able 



I 



1 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 395 

« 

to ascertain the exact time when they died. His children by first wife were: i, Jane 
Remick; ii, Susan Remick. Jane, m, Thomas Carll, of Waterborough. Susan, ra. 
Royal Clarke, of Cornish. No issue by second wife. The children belong to the sixth 
generation. 16, ii, Benjamin,* b. Aug. 19, 17(59, in Stratham, N. H. ; ra. Hannah Hodg- 
don, b. in 1770, in Limerick. He d. April 15, 1S03, in Parsonsfield. She d. April 12, 
1849, in Parsonsfield. See their children, Nos. 25, 26, 27, 28. 17, iii, David,* b. Dec. 24, 
1771, in Stratham, N. H. ; m. Nancy Chever, May 2.3, 1793, b. about 1776; d. about 18.")2, 
in Amelia, Ohio. He d. in the same place in 1861. 18, iv, Sarah,* b. March 17, 
1774, in Wakefield, N. H. ; m. Daniel Felch, b. Sept. 26, 1771, in Limerick; a merchant. 
He d. Oct. 3, 1806, in Limerick. She d. Feb. 28, 1808. in Limerick. Their children 
are : i, Susan Piper Felch ; ii, Sarah Barker Felch ; iii, Lydia Felch ; iv, Julia Felch ; 
V, Alpheus Felch, a graduate of Bowdoin College, lawyer, judge of the Supreme Court, 
governor of Michigan, United States senator ; and vi, Eunice Felch. The children 
belong to the sixth generation. 19, v. Daniel.* b. March 4, 1776, in Wakefield, N. H. ; 
an ensign, in the war of 1812; m. Anna Parsons, Aug. 3, 1798, b. May 7, 1783, in Par- 
sonsfield. He settled in Newburgh, in 1779, and d. Aug. 24, 1842. She d. Oct., 1865, 
in Newburgh. See their children. No. 29. 20, vi, Mary,* b. April 14, 1778, in Wake- 
field, N. H. ; m. Joseph Moff"att, b. , d. , in Illinois. She d. about 1822, in Ohio. 

Their children are: i, Joseph (and others). The children belong to the sixth genera- 
tion. 21, vii, Elisha,* b. May 1, 1781, in Parsonsfield; a farmer; m. Betsey Mighels, 
b. in 1783, in Newmarket, N. H. He d. in 1812, in Newburgh, where he first settled. 
She d. Aug. 15, 1864, in Newburgh. See their children, No. 3U. 22, viii, Jane,* b. May 
1, 1783, in Parsonsfield; m. Jacob Bradbury, June 20, 1803, b. Jan. 7, 1769, in Bidde- 
ford. He d. May 4, 1837, in Limerick, where he first settled. She d. there, Oct. 2, 
1863. Their children are : i, John ; ii, Benjamin P. ; iii, Jane ; iv, Albion ; v, Sally. The 
children belong to the sixth generation. 23, ix, Betsey,* b. April 11, 1786, in Parsons- 
field; m. Isaac Felch in 1805, b. in Limerick, May 7, 1782. He d. June 14, 1841, in 
Gorham, where he resided. He previously lived in Parsonsfield, near Parsonsfield 
Seminary. She d. Oct. 3, 1841, in Gorham. Their children are: i, Susan; ii, Noah; 
iii, Hannah K. ; iv, Eliza J. ; v, Isaac N., a graduate of Buwdoin College, lawyer, 
representative in the Maine Legislature, editor; vi. Surah P.: vii, Lydia C. The chil- 
dren belong to the sixth generation. 24, x, Jonathan* (see page 266) See his chil- 
dren, Nos. 31, 32, 33, 34. 

Sixth Generation. 

(16) Benjamin* Piper's children : — 25, i, Elisha,« b. Jan. 22, 1796, in Parsonsfield 
(see page 48) ; m. Sally Foster, b. Aug 21, 1812, in Parsonsfield. She d. D -c. 24, 1869. 
26, ii, Sally ,fi b. Sept., 1797, in Paisonsfield; m Isaac Moore, b. 1788, in Parsonsfield, a 
farmer. She d. July 10, 1835, in Parsonsfield. Hj d. M ly 6, 1841, in Parsonsfield. 
Their children are: i, Mary J.; ii, Charles; iii, Benjamin P ; iv, Caroline; v, Harriet; 
vi, Addison; vii, Ira (see page 274); viii, Isaac. The children belong to the seventh 
generation. 27. iii, Polly,'^ b. Dec. 2, ISiJO, in Parsousfleld; m. Capt. Gideon Bickfoid, 
Feb. 19,1818, b. July 12, 1796, in Parsonsfield. He d. Feb. 3, 1873, in Parsonsfield, 
where he always resided. She d. Mirch 20, 18S2, in Gorham. Their children are: i, 
Hannah P; ii, Mary A.; iii, Harriet N.; iv. George Irving; v, Albion K. P ; vi, Cyrus; 
vii, Roscoe G. ; viii, Laurinda E. ; ix, Rufus Mclntire; x, Sarah M.; xi, Adaline H. The 



39^ HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

children belona to the seventh geueration. 28, iv, Benjamin,6 b. March 29, 1802, in 
Parsonsfield; ra. 1st, Nancy Sargent, b. Nov. 9, 1808, d. Jan. 24, 1870, in Parsonsfield ; 
2d, Mrs. Mercy (Lang) Smith, Oct. 28. 1872, b. Feb. 24, 1805, in Effingham, N. H. He 
d. in Newfield, Dec. 23, 1881. See their children, Nos. 35, 36, 37, 38. 

(19) Daniel^ Piper's children: — (i, Thomas Parsons"; ii, Benjamin"; iii, Daniel'*; iv, 
Elisha"; v, Hannah Foster"; vi, Abigail Hobbs"; vii, Enoch Parsons"; viii, Daniel"; 
ix, Simeon Barker"; x, Alpheus Felch"; xi, John Usher Parsons"; xii, David." Only 
Daniel resides in Parsonsfield.) 29, viii, Daniel," b. July 1, 1814, in Newburgh; a 
farmer and selectman ; m. Hannah F. Parsons, July 16, 1837, b. Sept. 14, 1808, in Par- 
sonsfield. She d. June 7, 1883, in Parsonsfield. He settled in Parsonsfield in 1887, 
where he has since resided. See their children, No. 40. 

(21) Elisha^ Pijjer's children: — (i, Sally"; ii, Betsey Mighels"; iii, Ann"; iv, David"; 
V, Elisha"; vi, Jesse." Only Elisha resided in Parsonsfield.) 30, v, Elisha," b. April 
8, 1809, in Newburgh; m. Harriet Burbank, Nov. 21, 1833, b. Jan. 15, 1811, in Parsons- 
field. He resided on the old homestead, devised to him by his grandfather with 
whom he had lived from early childhood, and whose confidence and esteem he had 
gained by his fidelity, industry, and integrity. He d. April 11, 1876, in Parsonsfield. 
See their children, Nos. 41, 42, 43. 

(24) Jonathan^ Piper's children: — 31, i, Horace," b. Dec. 30, 1810, in Parsons- 
field; a graduate of Bowdoin College; teacher; lawyer; member, for York 
County, of the Board of Education of the State of Maine; m. Josephine Bennett 
Lord, Aug. 30, 183S, b. June 16, 1816, in Parsonsfield. She d. Aug. 5, 1867, in Bidde- 
ford. He resided in Parsonsfield, Limerick, and Biddeford. He now resides in Wash-, 
ington, D. C. See their children, Nos. 44, 45, 46. 32, ii, Irving," b. Nov. 29, 1813, in 
Parsonsfield; a farmer and teacher; m. 1st, Mary Emery, in 1841, b. April 1, 1815, in 
Buxton, and d. Feb. 6, 1847, in Parsonsfield; 2d, Elizabeth Chase, Dec. 15, 1849, b. 
June 15, 1822, in Parsonsfield. He d. May 14, 1881, in Parsonsfield, on the homestead 
devised to him by his father. She d. Sept. 3, 1882, in Poland. See their children, 
No. 47. 33, iii, Catherine Redman," b. Dec. 28, 1815, in Parsonsfield; m. Abram F. 
Marston, Oct. 3, 1847, b. Oct. 5, 1818, in Effingham, N. H. Their children are: (i, Mary 
Lucretia ; ii, John P., a graduate of Bates College, a teacher, and is now prin- 
cipal of the Kockland High School.) Their children belong to the seventh generation. 
34, iv, Osborne Barker," b. June 25, 1819; d. May 20, 1873. 

Seventh Generation. 

(28) Benjamin" Piper's children: — :35, i, Lorenzo Dow,^ b. Sept. 19, 1829, in Parsons- 
field; a farmer, teacher, high sheriff of Mitchell Co., Iowa; m. Mary Jane Nason, 
Sept. 26, 1850, b. March 27, 1829, in South Berwick, He resides in West Mitchell, 
Iowa. See their children, Nos. 48, 49. 36, ii, Joseph Perkins,'' b. July 9, 1881, in Shap- 
leigh; m. Ann Maria Frost, Sept. 23, 1852, b. Sept. 23, 1836, in Parsonsfield. He 
resides in Charlestowu, Mass. See their children, N os. 50, 51. 87, iii, Charles Abbott,^ 
b. Jan. 18, 1835, in Shapleigh; m. Mary Eraeline Hall, July 9, 1854, b. June 15, 1882, in 
Shapleigh. She d. Dec. 21, 1878, in Biddeford. He resides in Charlestown, Mass. 
See their children, Nos. 52, .53, 54, 55, 56, 57. 38, iv, Sarah Jane," b. June, 18:38, in 
Shapleigh; d. July 24, 1841. 39, v, Horace Manson,^ b. May 11, 1844, in Parsonsfield; 
a carpenter, teacher, and soldier in the Union Army, in the war of the rebellion; m. 



-i 






J i 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 397 

1st, Hannah Wedgwood Moore, April 9, 1872, b. Dec. 8, 1844, in Newfield, d. May 30, 
1879, in Newfield; 2d, Emma Mary Joy, Dec. 20, 1881, b. Oct. 22, 1861, in Mitchell, 
Iowa. No children. 

(29) DanieP Piper's children: — 40, i. Eliza Ann,^ b. Augr. 19, 1850, in Parsonsfield; m. 
Brackett T. Lord, Jan. 13, 1870, b. July 29, 1847, in Coinish; a farmer and selectman. 
He resides in Parsonsfield. Their children are: (i, George Lord, and ii, Eliza Hannah 
Lord.) The children belong to the eighth generation. 

(30) Elisha'' Piper's children: — 41, i, Samuel Burbank,' b. May 19, 18.35, in Parsons- 
field; d. April 23, 1837. 42, ii, Samuel FuUerton," b. March 11, 1838, in Parsonsfield; a 
farmer; m. Mary Jane Bragdon, Nov. 6, 18(55. b. Oct. 31, 18 !6, in Limington; a teacher 
before marriiige. He resides on the homestead of his faiher and great-grandfather. 
See their children, Nos. 58, 59. 43, iii, John Wesley,'' b Oct. 4, 1839, in Parsonsfield; 
a farmer and teacher; m. Ellen Adelaide Manson, Jan. 1, 1867, b. April 7, 1845, iu 
Limingt(m, a teacher before marriage. He resides in Parsonsfield, on the South Road, 
on the farm formerly owned by Jonathan^ Piper. See their children. No. 60. 

(31) Horace'^ Piper's children: — 44, i, William Wirt' (see page 156); was assistant 
surgeon iu the Union army in the war of the Rebellion ; m. Lucindi Cook, Aug. 28, 
1875, b. July 9, 1845, in Oshtemo, Mich. He resides and practices medicine iu Cleve- 
land, Ohio. They have no children. 45, ii, Horace Lord,' b. July 14, 1841, in Limer- 
ick; was one year in Bowdoiu College, lieutenant in tlie Union army iu the war of 
the Rebellion, received a medal from Congress for meritorious services iu the war, 
breveted major, graduated at the Law School of Columbian University, receiving the 
degree of ll.b., and was admitted to the bar at Washington, D. C. He ra Tryphuna 
Stuart Gove, Oct. 18, 1862, b. June U, 1843, in Limington. He resides in Washington, 
D. C. See their children. No. 61. 46, iii, Miry Josephine,' b. Jan. 25, 1813, in Limer- 
ick; m. Oren Hooper, Dec. 7, 1864, b. Dec. 10, 1840, iu Biddeford; a merchant. She 
d. Oct. 5, 1869, in Portland. Their children are: Frederick Noah, Mary Josephine, 
and Moses Arthur. Their children belong to the eighth generation. 

(32) Irving^ Piper's children: — 47, i, Sherman Emery,' b. Jan. 28, 1847, in Parsons- 
field; a teacher, land-surveyor, trustee of Parsonsfield Seminary; m. Minnie Charlotte 
Black, Miy 1, 1878, b. Jan. 28, 1849, in Limington; assistant teacher, before m irriago, 
in Parsonsfield Seminary. He resides in Parsonsfield on the homestead of his father 
and grandfather. See their children, Nos. 62, 63. 

Eighth Generation. 

(.35) Lorenzo Dowl Piper's children: — 48, i, *Ida Wallingford.s b. May 27, 1851, in 
* These have never resided in Parsonsfiekl, but are inserted to make the family complete. 
Berwick; m. John Torsleflf, Dec. 18, 1872, b. Oct. 12, 1844, in Boston, Mass. ; a farmer. 
He resides in West Mitchell, Iowa. (They have one child, Lorenzo Francis Torsleflf.) 
Belongs to the ninth generation. 49, ii, *Mary Wallingford,^ b. Jan. 18, 1857, in Ber- 
wick; m. Robert Waddall, Sept. 17, 1879, b. Jan. 23, 1847, in Scotland, a farmer. He 
resides in West Mitchell, Iowa. (They have one child, Loren Burton Waddall.) Be- 
longs to the ninth generation. 

(36) Joseph Perkins' Piper's children: — 50, i, Freddy Wilder.^ b. July 10, 1853; d. 
Nov. 16, 1859, in Parsonsfield. 51, ii, Sarah Jane,^ b. July 10, 1855, in Parsonsfield. 

(37) Charles Abbott' Piper's children: — 52, i, Perley Wesley,** b. Jan. 29, 1856; d. 



398 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Feb. 26, 1857. 58, ii, Perley Wesley,' b. Feb. 21, ISoT; d. Dec. 22, 1858. 54, iii, Marsis,^ 
b. May 27, 1861; d. July 28, 1861. 55, iv, George Henry,^ b. March 9, 1864. He resides 
in Biddeford. 56, v, Edward Everett,^ b Sept. 29, 1866, ; a bookkeeper. He resides 
in Portland. 57, vi, Alvah Cliessraan,^ b. Dec. 11, 1869. He resides in North Ber- 
wick. All were born in Parsonsfield. 

(42) Samuel Fullerton'' Piper's children: — 58, i, Carrie Lizzie, ^ b. Sept. 28, 1868; a 
teacher. 59, ii, Hattie May,' b. April 17, 1872. Both were born in Parsonsfield. 

(43) John Wesley^ Piper's children: — 60, i, Augustus Burbank,' b. June 4, 1868, in 
Parsonsfield; a farmer. 

(45) Horace Lord^ Piper's children: — 61, i, Josephine Lord^ b. June 11, 1864, in 
Biddeford. She resides in Washington, D. C. 

(47) Sherman Emery" Piper's children: — 82, i, George Irving,^ b. Aug. 9, 1879. 63, 
ii, Frank Sherman,' b. July 5, 1884. Both were born in Parsonsfield. 



(See Page 284.) 
Tobias,^ b. March 2-3, 1775, in Lebanon; m. 1st, Sally Gowen; settled in Parsons- 
field, 1800; had three children: 2, i, Isaac, b. Nov. 5, 1800; 3, ii, Rebecca, b. May 20, 

1802, m. James Brown, of Ossipee, June 20, 1833, d. ; 4, iii, John, b. Jan. 24, 1804. 

By 2d wife, Sally Young: 5, iv, Sarah, b. Sept. 20, 1809, d , 1886, unmarried; 6, v, 

Joseph (see page 285); 7, vi, Nancy, b. July 28, 1812, m. Albert Rand, of Parsons- 
field; 8, vii, Samuel (see page 286). Isaac, ^ m. 1st, Ziporah, daughter of Jeremiah 
Dearborn, Dec. 15, 1828; had one son, John Coleman, ra. 2d, Sarah Goldsmith, of 
Ossipee, where they reside, and have quite a large family. John,* m. Ist, Elizabeth, 
daughter of Jeremiah Dearborn, Nov. 28, 1883; had children: i, Lucinda, b. Feb. 26, 
18.36, m. Augustus Rowe, of Woodstock, Me., June 24, 1872, had one son, Lee; ii, 
Olive, b. Sept. 6, 18 lO, m. Geo. W. Nute, of Wolfborough, June 26, 1879, one son, Geo., 

b. ; 2d wife, Mrs. Hannah Go'dsmith Nute, by her one daughter, Hannah, m. 

(see page 46.) 



Deacon John Holmes Rand, son of Micah and Dorcas Rand, was born in Buxton, 
Aug. 29, 1785. He was of Scotch and English descent; m. Sarah Hancock, of Bux- 
ton, Nov. 22, 1807; moved to Parsonsfield in March, 1812; d. July 13, 1872. There 
were born to them six children, two in Buxton, four in Parsonsfield. Scwall H., b. 
Feb. 18, 1810; ra. Cordelia Perkins, March 13, 1834; had four children, Eliza, John, 
Elisha and Ellen; Eliza, m. Thomas French and soon after died, leaving four chil- 
dren; John is unmarried; Elisha died in the army; Ellen m. Silas Brown, and has one 
child. Elizabeth b. Oct. 28, 1811; m. Nathaniel Hill, of Brownfield, Me., Jan. 2, 1842; 
had four children, Sarah F., Albert R., James R. and Charles S. ; Sarah, m. Chesley 
Tibbetts, of Denmark, and has six children: Albert, m. Lizzie Lord, and has two 
children; James, m. Emma Hill, of Brownfield, and has three children; Charles, m. 
in the South, and is now living there, Albert, b. in Parsonsfield, July 22, 1813; m. 
Nancy Pray, Nov. 12, 1837; had three children, John H., James E. and Charles A.; 
John, m. Emma J. Clark, of Lewiston, Nov. 24, 1881, has one child; James is unmar- 
ried; Charles, m. Hattie Ayer, June 15, 1882. James, b. in Parsonsfield, Sept. .5, 1815; 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. . 399 

m. Dorothy M. Fernald, Dec. 26, 1839; had four children, John E., Sarah F., Eliza L. 
and Zylpha M. ; John m. Lizzie Randall, of Lebanon, has two children ; Sarah, m. 
Andrew Abbott, has one child; Eliza, m. Charles Fernald, of Boston, has one child; 
Zylpha, m. Charles Littlefield, of Wells. Dorcas, b. in Parsonsfield, June 25,1828; 
m. Simon Frost, Sept. 2-5, 1858. Sarah J., b. in Parsonsfield, Dec. 12, 1826; d. Feb. 10, 
1848. Dea. Rand was a man of commanding presence, six feet four inches in height, 
and well proportioned — every inch a man — full of benevolence and kindness, digni- 
fied, and at the same time eminently social; rigid in his discipline, determined but 
tolerant; a man well informed, and possessed of sound judgment. For many years 
he was one of the loved and reverenced deacons of Rev. John Buzzell's church, and 
many of the present generation remember him with grateful pie isure. 

KAN D ALL. 
Thomas C, of Kezar Falls (Parsonsfield) furnishes the following. 

Milesi Randall built the Garrison, , in 1705, and twenty-four families occupied 

it. Thomas'- was b. there; m. Abigail Huckins; moved to Parsonsfield, in 1776 
(name not found on records until 1796) ; purchased a large tract of land near Porter 
Bridge, afterward moved to Canada with most of his family. Thomas Randall, jr., 3 
b. 1779; m. Lydia Matthews, of Lee, N. H., 1798; moved to Parsonsfield, 1800; chil- 
dren: Anna*; Gideon M ,^ b. 1801; R. W.,^ b. 1803; Lydia,' b. 1807. Thomas, jr.,8 
moved to Freedom, in 1809; had Sally,^ b. 1812; Mary H.,^ b. 1814. Thomas C.i' b. 
1819. Gideon M.,^ settled in Parsonsfield; ra. Eliza D. Fox, 1824; had children: 
i, Elijah F., b. 1827; ii, Hannah, b. 1828; iii, Reuben \V., b. 1830; iv, Ehza J., b. 1834; 
V, John W., b. 1838; ,vi, William H., b. 1840; vii, Ed. G., and viii, Mary G., b. 1845; 
ix, Rowena, b. 1848; none leside in Parsonsfield. Thomas C.,^°m. Alice T. Guptill, of 
Parsonsfield, 1840; moved to Eaton ; had children: i, Charles H., b. 1841, d. 1847; ii, 
James E., b. 1845; iii, Charles H., b. 1847; iv, Lydia E., b. 1851, d. 1852; v, Lydia E., 
b. 1853, d, 1857. Thomas C. moved to Parsonsfield in 1853, and has since resided here. 



(1) Capt. Tristara Redman, a descendant of Tristam Redman, of England, who 
came to Hampton in the seventeenth century, and son of David and Sarah Parcher 
Redman, was born in Scarborough, Me., 1770; m. Hannah Burbank, 1800; settled at 
Parsonsfield, 1815; d. 1853; wife d. 1846. Names of children: 2, i, Hannah, b. 1804; m. 
Isaac Lord, Oct. 2(5, 1820; he d. Nov. 6, 185i); 3, ii, Tristam, b. 1807, m. Frances Free- 
man, 1834, d. 1832; 4, iii, Lorenzo, b. 1814, ra. Mary Collins, d. 1881. 

Children of Hannah^ and Isaac Lord: — 5, i, Catherine R., b. Jan. 19, 1828; m. 
Nicholas Springer, March 7, 1855; resides in St. Louis; 6, ii, Frances, b. March 12, 
1833; m. Dr. Frank Moore, of St. Louis, April 17, 1867; 7, iii, Lauriston, b. Feb. 18, 

1831; d. Jan. 21, 18:32; 8, iv, Sarah L., b. Sept. 24, 1835; m. James A. Dittrick, July 

17, 18(;0; reside in Springfield, Mo.; 9, v, Hannah B., b. Aug. 17, 1838; ra. John T. 

Wells, June 4, 1807; settled in Newton, Mass.; d. July 19, 1879; 10, vi, Isaac L., b. 

March 2, 1840; m. Kate Thomas, March 5, 1873. 

Children of Tristam^: — 11, i, Fannie, b. 1832; m. Mr, Brooking; 12, ii, Elizabeth, 

b. 18:34; m. Samuel Campbell; 13, iii, Lottie, b. 1836; m. Mr. Upham ; 14, iv, Kate, b. 

18:38; m. Mr. Gardner; 15, v, Helen, b. 1839; d. 1844; 16, vi, Sadie, b. 1841; 17, vii, 
Lucy, b. 1813. 



400 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Children of Lorenzo*: — 18, i, John C, b. 1S39; m. ; 19, ii, Charles, b. 1841; 

d. 1860; 20, iii, Lorenzo, jr., b. 1842; ra.; has two sons and one daughter; 21, iv, Mary 
E., b. 1845. 

KICKER. 

There is good reason for believing that all in this country, bearing this name, are 
traceable to the same genealogical tree, and that that tree had its roots in the Isle of Jer- 
sey. Capt. Joseph RiCker, who d. in Parsonsfield in 1825, was grandson to one of the 
emigrants. Whether the two emigrant brothers, or only their ancestors, were born 
in Jersey, is not known. One of these, George Ricker, was a resident of Cocheco, 
now Dover, N. H., in 1670, and was taxed there in 1672. The first earnings he could 
spare appear to have gone to pay for his brother Maturin's passage to America. 
Roth brothers became residents of Dover, where tliey raised famihes, and where both 
were killed by the Indians, June 4, 1706. Joseph Ricker, son of Maturin, lived in 
Somersworth, N. H. ; m. Elizabeth Garland; admitted to the First Church, Dover, 
March 22, 1780; d. in Berwick, Me. His Avill, executed at the latter place, Jan. 19, 
1771, shows that he was well endowed with worldly substance, mostly in farms, which, 
he distributed among his numerous children. To two of his sons, Tristram and 
Joseph, he gave his Berwick homestead, and his negroes, whose ashes repose in the 
family burying-ground of their former masters. 

Joseph Ricker (last named), m. Deborah Wentworth, of Somersworth, N. H., Dec. 17, 
1767. He was born Dec. 9, 1746, andshe, Aug. 14, 1749. (See Wentworth Genealogy by 
Hon. John Wentworth, of Chicago.) They resided in Berwick until about 1788, then in 
Lyman until 1806, then their eldest son, Dominicus, established a home in Parsons- 
field, to which they accompanied him, and where they spent the i-emnant of their 
days. He d. Oct. 18, 1825, and she, Feb. 18, 1835. They had children (all born in 
Berwick, except the last two), as follows: — i, Dorcas, b. Nov. 25, 1768; m. Joseph 

Shores; d. ; ii, Molly, b. April 19, 1771; m. 1st, Edward Scribner; 2d, Josiah 

Pei'kins; d. Sept. 6, 1861; iii, Dominicus, b. June 4, 1773; m. 1st, Sarah Hayues; 2d, 
Susanna Perkins; d. Dec. 30, 1863; iv, Pelatiali, b. Dec. 17, 1775; ra. Jane Leighton; 
d. Dec. 4, 1842; v, Amaziah, b. May 4,1778; ra. Susan Baker; d. March 24, 1826; 
vi, Joanna, b. July 15, 1781; unmarried; d. Feb. 4, 1820; vii, Anna, b. June 11, 
1784; m. Elislia Strout; d. at an advanced age; viii, Tobias, b. July 15, 1786; m. 
Sally Hannaford; d. Jan. 30, 1844; ix, Susanna, b. May 6, 1790; d. in infancy; x, 
Betsey, b. March 5, 1796; d. young. Of the above-named children, three, Dominicus, 
Pelatiah and Tobias, settled in Parsonsfield, and to their families the remainder of 
this paper will be devoted. 

Dominicus Ricker, b. in Berwick, June 4, 1773; d. in Parsonsfield, Dec. 30, 1863. 
For nearly forty years he was a deacon of the Baptist church. He m. 1st, Nov, 19, 
1801, Sarah Hayues, of Waterborough, who d. in 1803. They had born to them, Feb. 
19, 1803, i, John H., who m. 1st, Sept. 1, 1831, Eloisa Morrill, of Dexter. She d. in 
Topsham, March 7, 1851. They had 1, Sarah Haynes, b. Sept. 13, 1832, d. March, 
1877; 2, Levi Morrill, b. Dec. 31, 1835, d. March 18, 1836; .3, Abbie, b. Dec. 9, 1840, d. 
Nov. 28, 1878. He m. 2d, March 7, 1852, Mary Jane, daughter of Pelatiah Ricker. b. 
April 20, 1802, d. Oct. 10, 1878. They had no children, Dominicus Ricker ra. 2d, 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 4OI 

Oct. 4, 1804, Susanna, daughter of William Perkins, of Wells, b. Sept. 15, 1784, d. 
April 14. 1864. They had: i, Rnfus, b. July 28, 180.5, m. 1st, Jan., 1832, Nancy W. 
Whittemore, of Topsliam. who d. April 21, 1863. They had 1, Rufus W., b. Feb. 14, 
1833; 2, Abbie M., b. June 21, 1838; 3, Eioisa E., b. Sept. 18, 1840; 4, George E., b. July 

18. 1842. He is a deacon of the Warren A v. Baptist church, Boston, and the pastor's 
assistant, giving all his time to church work. 5, Mary Ann S., b. July 22, 1845, d. 
Junes, 1875; 6, Alfred T., b. Feb. 7, 1848. They all married. RufusRicker m. 2d, Sept. 
12, 1885, Lucy M. Strout, of Poland. They lived in Charlestown, Mass., where he d. Sept. 

19, 1866. ii, Sally H., b. Oct. 15, 1807, m. Jan. 23, 183.3, Adam Wilson, d.d. (See personal 
notice, p. 269.) They had 1, John Butler, b. Feb. 24, 1834, d. March 15, 1866; 2, Mall- 
ville Anna, b. Nov. 19, 1835, d. Sept. 2, 1837; 3, Angie R., b. May 31, 1838; 4, Charles 
H., b. June 2, 1840. d. June 4, 1841; 5, George A., b. July 31, 1812; 6, Frederic M , b. 
Dec. 1, 1850. All the sons that survived to adult age graduated at Colby University, 
iii, J^ancy, b. Maich 14, 1810, m. George Thompson, June 12, 1831, and d. Aug, 6, 1S49. 
They had 1. George B., b. Dec. 6, 18-32; 2, Albert, b. July 22, 1834; .3, William R., b. 
March 13, 1837; 4, Charles G., b. June 9, 1839; 5, Horace P., twin with Charles. Wil- 
liam R. graduated at Colby University in 1863, and is pastor of the Baptist church in 
New Ipswich, N. H. iv, William, b. Aug. 12, 1812, d. in Chillicothe, HI., Sept. 17, 
1S78. For many years deacon of the Baptist church. Oct. 1, 1840, he m. Harriet N. 
Morrill, of Dexter, Me., b. Sept. 29, 1823; removed to Illinois, where his widow still 
resides. Tliey had 1, Mary Ellen, b. Dec. 16, 1841; 2, Lyman Jordan, b. Aug. 18, 1843, 
d. May 29, 1846; 3, Harriet Newell, b. Nov. 17, 1845; 4, Samuel Morrill, b. Jan. 18, 
1848; 5, William Clarence, b. Jan. 13, 1851; 6, Annie Eioisa, b. Aug. 29, 1854; 7, Susan 
Idalette, b. May 10, 18-57; 8, Rosa Alice, b. Aug. 13- 1860; 9, Dominicus, b. Oct. 31, 
1873, d. June 3, 1865; 10, Lucy O., b. Nov. 5, 1866, d. Oct. 29, 1870; 11, Frederic O., b. 
April 21, 1868, d. Oct. 29, 1870. v, Joseph (see personal notice, p. 269, also pages 1 
and 17), b. Jnne 27, 1814, m. 1st, June 9, 1841, Anna Judson Clarke, of Bangor, b. Feb. 
14, 1819, d. Nov. 16, 1847. They had 1, Howard Clarke, b. Feb. 3, 1844, d. Jan. 4, 1845; 
2, Anna Judson, b. July 12, 1846, m. Jan. 1, 1872, George A. Philbrook, of Augusta, 
and had Mary Gardner, b. Sept. 15, 1877. Joseph Ricker, m. 2d, May 7, 1849, Lucy M. 
Corey, of Brookline, Mass. No children were bjrn to them, vi, Mary, twin with 
Joseph, m. June 9, 1843, David Whittier, of Bangor, and d. July 25, 1884. He was b. 
July 24, 1815, d. Oct. 19, 1869. They had 1, Charles Howard, b. Sept. 5,;il841, d. June 
29, 1864, of wounds received before Petersburgh, Va., June 18, 1864; 2, Abbie M., b. 
July 4, 1855, m. Dec. 19, 1878, Charles F. Meserve, of Mass. They had one child, vii, 
Olive, b. July 2, 1818, d. March 17, 18:^0. viii, Ann, b. April 12, 1820, m. Oct. 8, 1844, 
Danville D. Swett. of Turner, b. July 20, 1817. They had 1, John Adams, b. March 9, 
1848; 2, Edward R., b. Nov. 6, 1855. ix, Dominicus, b. May 14, 1823 (see sketch, p. 282, 
also p. 44), ni. Aug. 10, 1848, Caroline E. Thompson. They had 1, Frank H., b. Oct. 7, 
18-50; 2, Abbie C, b. Aug. 19, 18-56, ra. Oct. 14, 1878, Joseph H. Chadbourne, of Bidde- 
ford. X, Lucy Jane, b. Sept. 19, 1825, d. Dec. 26, 1861 ; Oct. 10, 1849, she m. Enoch W. Neal, 
who d. Nov. — , 18.55. They had Florence E., b. June 6, 1854. Lucy Jane Neal, m. 2d, 
May 15, 1861, Ira A. Philbrick, who survived her several years, xi, Susan, b. April 31, 
1828; d. in Illinois, Sept. 11, 1876; m. Jan. 17, 18-50, George B. Wing, of Bangor; re- 
moved to Illinois where he d. in the spring of 1871. They had live children, xii, 

26 



402 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Abbie W., b. Dec. 24, 1831, m. June 1, 1854, Abel G. Wliittier, of Bangor, and d. Sept. 
23, 1854. 

Pelatiah Ricker,^ b. Dec. 17, 1775, d. Dec. 4, 1842. He m. June 25, 1799, Jane Leigh- 
ton, who d. Oct. 1.5, 1870, aged 91. They had i, Mary J., b. April 20, 1802, d. Oct. 10, 
1878. She m. March 2, 1852, John H. Ricker, and had no children, ii, Abigail F., b. 
Jan. 21; 1804, d. x'Vpril 8, 1854. She m. George Hilton, b. March 22, 1799, d. Oct. 24, 
1886. See Hilton genealogy, iii, Julia A., b. Feb. 12, 1806, m. Hiram N. Tripp, b. Feb. 
13, 1800. Both d. in Alfred at an advanced age. They had 1, Edwin; 2, Franklin; 3, 
Mary Ann; 4, Alonzo; 5, Abigail; 6, George L ; 7, Pelatiah R. ; 8, Annette; 9, Lucy; 
10, Charles H. iv, Samuel Leighton, b. Dec. IS, 18)8, m. Eliz ibeth Wentworth, of 
Parsonsfield, who was born Nov. 10, 1813. She d. several years since. He had no 
children. Has always resided in his native town. 

Tobias Ricker, i^ b. July 15, 1786, and d. Jan. 30, 1844. He was deputy sheriff for 
many years. He m. Sally, daughter of Josiah Hannaford, of Parsonsfield. She was 
b. June 8, 1794, and d. Sept., 1863. They had i, Josiah H., b. Marcli 3, 1816; d. in St. 
Louis, Mo., in 1854. He was a merchant, and unmarried, ii, Elizabeth H., b. Dec. 25, 
1817; d. March, 1851; m. Charles .Malloy, in 1836, and had Harriet E., who lives in VVal- 
tbam, Mass. iii, Erastus F., b. April 27 1823; ra. Olive B. Trull in 1849, and had Edward 
Bruce, Charles, and a daughter. His home is in Osceola, Iowa, iv, Harriet F., b. Dec. 
27, 1824, and d. in 1842. v, Araaziah, d. young, vi, Anna W., b. Dec. 29, 1831, and d. 
in 18.56. She m. 1st. in 1851, Hazen Leavitt, of Efiangham, N. H., and 2d, Dr. John 
Emery, of Trivoli, 111. 



The ancestor who fii'st settled in this country was Magnus Redland, born in 1674, at 
Orkney Islands. Scotland. He first settled in York, York Co., Me., in 1717 or 1718. 
The first settler in Parsonsfield was Magnus Ridlon, he was born in Buxton, Me., 
Aug. 5, 1815; he moved to town, 1840, and settled at Kezar Falls; m. Emily Emery, 
1840; d. Feb. 1, 18S8; had children: i, Emery S., b. April 21, 1841; m. Ida M. Bick- 
ford, April 30, 1864; has one son (see page 132). ii, Elizabeth R., b. Jan. 18, 1844, and 
d. young, iii, John F., b. Sept. 7, 1846, and is still at the blacksmith trade, iv. Still- 
man J., b. Dec. 7, 1849; m. Nellie A. Quimby; live there now and have children, v, 
Emily F.,b. Oct. 6, 1853. vi. Marcia, b. July 25, 18-57. vii, Nellie, b. Nov. 28, 1867. 

Magnus Redland, son of Thomas Redland and Barbara Laughton, was born in the 
parish of St. Andrews, Orkney Isles, on Sept. 3, 1674. He was named for his maternal 
uncle, Magnus Laughton, who stood his godfather at his baptism. Had brothtrs, 
Nicol and Edward, with sisters, Janet and Catherine. This young man was taken by 
a British Press-gang and brought to America on a man-of-war. He deserted and first 
settled in the town of York where he owned land; m. Susanna Austin, widow of 
Ichabod Austin, whose maiden name was Young, of Scottish extracticm; had five 
children, Ebenezer, Daniel, Matthias, John and Susanna, born in York; wife d. in 
1730; removed to Biddeford and married Quelly Massie, daughter of Abraham Towu- 
send, and had born to him, Abraham, Jeremiah and Jacob, at Saco Ferry, so-called. 
Purchased land of father-in-law, house on bank of Saco river at Rendezevus Point, 
two miles below the present city of Saco. Will made in 1766. Died in 1772, aged 98. 
(See Ridlon's history of the family, pages 588, 589, 590, 591.) 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 4O3 

ROBERTS. 

The first settler in Parsonsfield of this family was Joshua Roberts. He settled at 
West Parsonsfield in the year 1811; b. 1779, at Berwick, Me.; m. Abigail Hubbard, 
1799; d. 1855; wife d. 1863; had nine children: i, Tristram, b. 1800; m. Betsy Page; d. 
March 11. 1864; had seven children, li, Mark, b. 1803; m. Lydia Abbott; d. May 27, 
1884; had three children, iii, Joshua, b. 1805; m. Lucy Neal ; d. June 18,1882; had 
seven children, iv, Hubbard, b. 1808; m. Mary GrifSn; d. April 8, 1858; had ten chil- 
dren. V, Lewis, b. 1810; m. Susan Weymouth; d. Nov. 25,1876; had two children, 
vi, Joseph, b. 1814; m. 1st, Louisa Howe; 2d, Mary J. Cole; d, March 26, 1878; had 
eleven children, vii, John, b. 1818; m. Clarissa Cooper; had five children; resides 
in Dover, N. H. viii, Betsy, b. 1822; m. Abel Jellison; d. Nov. 4, 1852; had two chil- 
dren, ix, Abby, b. 1825; m. Levi Howe; had three children. 

SANBORN. 
(See pages 288 to 292). 
First Generation. 

1, John (2), b. about 1600; m. daughter of Rev. Stephen Bachilor and d. in England, 
prior to 1632. 

Second Generation. 

2, Lieut. John (5), b. 1620; m, 1st, Mary, daughter of Robert Tucke. She d. Dec. 
30, 1668; m. 2d, Margaret Moulton (widow); she d. July 13, 1699; he d. Oct. 20, 1692. 
3, Esq. William, b. about 1622; m. Mary Moulton, and d. Sept. 18, 1692. 4, Stephen. 

Third Generation. 
5, John, jr., b. 1649; m. Nov. 19, 1674, Judith Coffin; and d. Nov. 10, 1723. 6, Mary, 
b. April 12, 1651 ; d. 1654. 7, Abial, b. Feb. 23, 1653; m. Feb. 19, 1677, Ephraim Mars- 
ton. 8, Richard (15), b. Jan. 4, 1655; m. Dec. 5, 1678, to Ruth Moulton; 2d, Dec. 20, 
1693, (widow) Mary Boulter. 9, Mary, b. March 19, 1657; d. March 4, 1660. 10, 
Joseph, b. March 13, 1659; m. Dec. 28, 1682, Mary Gove. 11, Stephen, b. Nov. 1661; d. 
Feb. 24, 1662. 12, Anne, b. Dec. 20, 1662; m. Samuel Palmer; d. Oct. 4, 1745. 13, 
Nathaniel, b. Jan. 27, 1666;' m. 1st., Rebecca Prescott, Dec. 3, 1691; shed. Aug. 19, 
1704; m. 2d, Sarah Nason; he d. Nov. 9, 1723. 14 (a), Benjamin, b. Dec. 20, 1668; m. 

1st, Sarah ; she d. Jan. 29, 1720; m. 2d, Meribah Tilton (widow); shed. Dec, 

15, 1740; m. 3d, Abigail Dalton (widow). 14, Jonathan, b. May 25, 1672 ; m, Elizabeth 
Sherborn, and d. June 20, 1741, 

Fourth Generation, 
Issue of Richard (8) :— 15, Mary, b, Sept. 30, 1679. 16, John (19), b. Nov. 6, 1681 ; m 

Aug. 8,1701, Sarah Philbrick ; she b. 1683; he d. May 30, 1761. 17, Ruth, b. , 

18, Shubael, b. 1694; m. June 7, 1716, Mary Drake, and d. May 3, 1759. 

Fifth Generation. 

Issue of Ensign John (16):— 19, Daniel, b. Feb. 17,1702; m. Jan. 14, 1725, Catherine 

Rollins. 20, Benjamin (.33), b. Nov. 8, 1703; m. Elizabeth Gilman. 21, Phebe, b. Feb, 

6, 1706 ; m. Nathaniel Pease. 22, Richard, b. May 29, 1708; m. Elizabeth Bachilor. 23, 

Nathan, b. May 29, 1708; ra. Catharine Sattalee, 24, Elisha, b, April 1, 1710; m. Lydia 



404 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

. 25, Ebenezer, b. March 4, 1712; m. May 1, 1735, Ruth Sauborn; d. April 9, 



1794. 26, Sarah, b. May 21, 1714. 27, Abigail, b. Oct. 24, 1716. 28, Ruth, b. March 18, 
1719; m. Capt. Jouathan Gilraan. 29, John, b. May 5, 1721; m. Sarah Gilmau. 30, 
Hannah, b Feb. 3, 1723; m. Deacon Stephen Dudley. 31, James, b. April 5, 1724. 32, 
Mary, b. March 1, 1726. 

Sixth Generation. 

Issue of Benjamin (20):— 33, Deacon John (39), b. July 17, 1730; m. Dec. 20, 1754, 
MaryGlidden; she b. Sept. 6, 1732, and d. April 1.5, 1806; he d. Sept. 4, 1812. 34, 

Elisha, b. ; d. 1756, unmarried. 35, Mary. 36, Benjamin, a celebrated teacher. 

37, Israel. 38, Joseph. 

Seventh Generation. 

Issue of Deacon John (33):— 39, Betsey, b. Nov. 17, 1755; ra. Samuel Osgood; d. 
June, 1823. 40, Mary, b. June 11, 1757; m. Ebeuezer Stevens, and d. Dec. 18, 1828. 
41, Eunice, b. June 3, 1760; m. Ricliard Boyington. 42, John (48), b. March 20, 1763; 
m. 1st, Hannah Batchelder, Jan. 18, 1789; she was b. July 15, 1766, and d. Dec. 30, 
1814; m. 2d, Miriam Burbank (widow), April 13, 1815; she was b. Feb. 28, 1768, and d. 
April 28, 1838; he d. Oct. 21, 1825. 43, Sarah, b. Feb. 5, 1765; m. Nathaniel Tilton. 44, 
Benjamin, b. Nov. 1, 1766; m. June 8, 1793, Judith Tilton; she was b. Jan. 8, 1770, 
and d. Nov. 11, 1853; he d. May 20, 1831, Gilford, N. H. 45, Elisha, b. May 10, 1769; 
m. twice ; d. April, 1856. 46, Susannah, b. March 12, 1771 ; m. John Page, Gilmanton, 
N. H. 47, Lieut. David E., b. June 14, 1775; m. 1st, Sept. 17, 1798, Hannah Hook; she 
wasb. March 27, 1778, and d. Oct. 2, 1827; ra. 2d, Sophia Wood, Aug. 2, 1828; she 
wash. June 10, 1794; he d. Feb. 24, 1854. This brings us to the original settler" in 
Parsonsfield, John Sanborn (42). His children are as follows: 

Issue of John (42). the original settler in P.:— 48. Child b'irn, and died Dec. 19, 1789. 
49, Mary (Polly) b: June 20, 1791; m. Nov. 29, 1810, Col. Bartlett Doe, and d. May 22, 
1863; had issue, seven sons and five daughters. 50, John (57), b. April 22, 1793; m. 
Feb. 27, 1819, Esther, daughter of "Parson " Eastman, of Limerick ; he d. Feb. 18, 1868, 
51, Hannah, b. March 31, 1795; m. Oct. 12, 1815, Ira Chadbourn ; d. March 4, 1826; he d. 
1862; had issue, one son, three daughters. 52, Benjamin (66), b. Feb. 22, 1798; m. 
April 30, 1820, Sarah Scribner; d. Sept. 28, 1882; she d. 1877. 53, Sally, b. April 2S, 
1800; m. Nov, .30, 1820, John Moore, of Newfield; d. July 28, 1839; had issue five sons. 
54, Luther (71), b. April 30, 1803; m. Nov. 30, 1826, Sarah, daughter of John and Tem- 
perance Hayes, of Limerick ; she was b. Oct. 1, 1804, and died at Newton Center, 
Mass., Oct. 27, 1877; he d. April 27, 1865 (see page 289). 55, Ira (77), b. March 4, 1806; 
m. June 16, 1832, Hannah Hodgdon ; she was b. Feb. 16, 1810, and d. Aug. 14, 1870; he 
d. Jan. 24, 1859, 56, Amzi (85), b. Jan. 1, 1809; m. Sept. 10, 1835, Julia A. Pierce, of 
Chesterville, Me.; she d. in Phillips, Me., Nov. 13, 18£2; m. 2d, Mary Wheeler, of 
Phillips, Dec. 6, 1855 (See page 148). 

Ninth Generation. 
Issue of John (.50):— 57, Edmund Eastman, ra. Elizabeth Freeman ; had issue Nancy. 
58, John, 59, Charles A., m. Phoebe Brown; had issue, Charles, Edmund and Ella. 

60, Erastus E., m. Letitia McLoud; had issue, Anna L. ; Carrie E., d. July 1, 1877. 

61, William H., m. Anna Sabin; had issue Lillie, and d. Aug. 4, 1884. 62, John, d. 
Oct. 21, 1862. 63, Harriet. 64, Lucia A., m. Daniel McLean; d. 1886. 65, Edward. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 405 

Issue of Benjamin (o2):— 66, David S„ b. Aug. 18, 1821; m. June 21, 1849, Azalia 
Davis; had issue, George I., b. Jan. 19, 1851, m. Laura Colby, March 1, 1876; Frank 
L. b. Aug. 22, 1S52, m. Anvella Getchell, Nov. 26, 1874; Davis, b. April 29, 1856, m. 
Arabella Thompson, Jan. 6, 1883; Milan B., b. April 13, 1862, m. Mellie Thompson, 
Sept. 22, 1886; Herman M., b. March 31, 1864, d. Aug. 29, 1864 ; Albert J., b. Jan. 19, 
1866. 67, Nancy P., b. Jan. 13, 1824; d. June 27, 1840. 68, Elthera H., b. Sept. 25, 
1826; m. John M. Jameson, May 26, 1853; he d. May 22, 1862; m. 2d, Given Jameson, 
Nov. 2, 1864. 69, Hannah B., b. March 14, 1830; m. Dec. 29, 1856, George W. Crockett; 
had issue, four sons, two daughters. 70, Amzi, b. June 29, 1840; m. April 26, 1866, M. 
Emma Davis; d. Oct. 7, 1871 ; had issue one daughter, Mary E., b. May 29, 1808. 

Issue of Luther (54):— 71. Hannah Batchelder, b. Feb. 4, 1828; m. Sept. 15, 1850, 
Solon H. Brickett, of Newton Centre, Mass. ; had issue, three sons, four daughters. 

72, Jane Adams, b. Jan. 20, 1830; m. June 5, 1855, George O. Sanborn, son of Abiel, of 
Gilford, N. H., and grandson of Benjamin. No. 44; had issue, two sons, one daughter. 

73, John Hayes, b. Nov. 5, 1832; m. 1st. April 20, 1870, Agnes E. McJanet; she was b. 
July 1, 1839, d. May 16, 1875; had issue, one son, one daughter; m. 2d, Ella Leora 
Foote, Dec. 19, 1883; resides at Newton Center. 74,' Charles Franklin, b. Sept. 12, 
18.35; m. Nov. 30, 1864, Esther A., daughter of Samuel and Louisa Wi2:gin, of Parstms- 
field ; she was b. Feb. 22. 1838 (see page 292) ; children, 1, Luther Edwin, b. Nov. 18, 
1867; -2, Louise Wiggin, b. Oct. 21. 1869, d. April 19, 1871; 3, Alta May, b. Sept. 1.3, 
1872; 4, Ida Louise, b. Oct. 18, 1878. 75, Edwin Luther, b. Jan. 13, 1840; m. Nov. 21, 
1867, Lydia, daughter of VVilliain Hilton Emmons, of Boston; had issue, two sons, 
two daughters ; resides in Boston. 76, Sarah Frances, b. July 25, 1842; m. April 23, 
1873, to Russell H. Conwell (see pages 165 and 307) ; had issue one daughter. 77 (a), 
Mary Hayes, b. Dec. 15, 1844; d. Aug. 27, 1846. 

Issue of Ira (55) :— 77, Ira Edwin, b. April 27, 1833, 73, Charles Henry, b. June 10, 
1834; d. Dec. 15, 1867. 79, John Murray, b. Jan. 16, 1836; d. May 8, 1861. 80, Wash- 
ington Irving, b. Dec. 24, 1836. 81, Hannah Hodgdon, b. Dec. 1, 1838; d. March 20, 
1841. 82, Martha Ann, b. August .30, 1840. 83, Hannah Hodgdon, b. May 29, 1843. 
84, Lydia Ellen, b. March 23, 1846; d. Sept. 14, 1846. 

Issue of Amzi (56):— Two chiLlren died in infancy. 85, Ellen A., b. May 10, 1836; 
m. Dr. F. M. Everleth. 86, Juliet C, b. March 1, 1839: d. Aug. 22, 1840. 87, Marsh- 
man VV., b. Feb. 20, 1841 ; m. Augusta Talbot, and d. April 25, 1884. 88, Edward VV., 
b. Feb. 19, 1845; is in government service in the arsenal at Benecia, Cal. 89, Sou, 
died in infancy. 90, Aphia \V., b. Jan. 18, 1861 ; m. A. M. Greenwood. 



I am indebted to Frank W. Shepardson, of Granville, Ohio, a descendant of the 
Smarts, for many of the data relative to this family. 

Caleb Smaiti moved from Newmarket to Hopkinton, N. H., and had childi-en; 
Elijah, Caleb, Joseph, Beuning, Mary, Charles,^ b. 1767, Susan, Francis (moved to 
Ohio), Rebecca, Drusilla and Durell. These are descended from Captain John Smart, 
who settled in Hingham, Mass., 1635; had sons: Charles, James, Robert. There was 
a Dudley Smart, who resided in Sanbornton, N. H. (brother of Caleb? ); he was b. 
1758; a Samuel, who resided in Wentworth, N. H., b. 1763; a Moses in Rumney, N. H., 
b. 1755; a Robert, d. at Sanbornton, 1818; wife d. 1824, aged about 101 years. 



406 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Charles' married Silence (Garduer?); resided in Grafton, N. H. ; had sons: Gardner,^ 
b. 1790, Samuel, Charles, Joseph, Caleb, F -nelon, Watson, and daughters, Rebecca, 
Sally, Irenia, Sophronia — all became residents of Ohio save Gardner.^ He m. Sally 
Mighel, b. May 25, 1793; he d. 1868; she d. 1862; had children: i, Moses M.* (see page 
62); li, James R.,6b. Sept., 1813; iii, Eliza A.,6b. April, 1815; iv, John GJ (see page 
307); V, Sewall.s b. Sept., 1818; vi, William,^ b. 1820, d. in Coolville, Ohio, 18:39; vii, 
Sarauel.w b. 1823, d. in infancy; viii, Sarah A.,ii b. 1825; ix, Gardner,!^ b. Aug. 1826; 
X, Charles,i3 b. 1828; xi, Harriet A.» (see pages 262,:3), b. July, 18:30; xii, Mary G.i^ 
(see page 1.58), b. July, 1832; xiii. Almond O.is b. 1834. Moses M.,* m. 1st, Caroline 
Matthews, of Waterville, Me.; had children, John M., Caroline, William, Ella, Leilie, 
Charles; 2d wife, Mary McMaster; one daughter, Mary; none reside in town. James 
R.,^ m. Hannah Mulloy; moved to Cincinnati, Ohio; d. 1835; left one daughter, Eliza, 
the wife of Daniel Shepardson, d.d., of Granville, Ohio. Eliza A.,^ m. 1st, Stephen 
Jones, of Sweden; 2d, James Bowers, of Whitesiown, N. Y.; reside in Newfield, Me.; 
have one daughter, Hattie. Sewall,' m. Eliza Blinn, of New York; has two children, 
Hattie and Mellen; resides in Bridgewater, Mass. Sarah^S m. 1st, Alvah M. Davis, of 
Parsonsfield; had three children — only one living, Mrs. Hattie Boynton, of Limerick, 
Me.; 2d, Rev. G. W. Gould, of Lisb<m, Me. Gardner,!-, m. Eliza Sands, of Buxton; 
d. in Parsonsfield, May 27, 1887. Charles.i^ m. Sabra Stackpole, of Parsonsfield; has 
two children, Charles H., and Mary E. ; all reside in Philips, Me. Almond O.,!^ j^, 
Mary Pease, of Cornish, Me.; resides in Parsonsfield; was captain of Company H. 
27th Me. during the war. 

Moulton Smart, who lived in Parsonsfield in the last of the 18th century, was a con- 
nection of Gardner^— was he a brother or nephew of Charles^? He had sons, Bur- 
leigh and Emery, both physicians (see page 139), and a daughter, Harriet, who ra. 
Phineas Ames. I have been unable to trace the connection, only the fact that Gard- 
ner^ used to call Drs. Burleigh and Emery his cousins. 



This name can never be traced. It is safe to say, however, that the first Smith was 
named John, and it is claimed for him, the first settler in the U. S., a biith in 
England. He settled in Portsmouth in 1631, and .some eight or ten generations from 
him is H. G. O. Smith, sou of Thomas and Sally (Moulton) Smith, of Newfield, a 
family of distinction. He was b. Dec. 24, 1812; m. Olive Pease, of Parsonsfield, 
May 27,1840; came to town 1858; wife d. July .30. 1863; m. 2d, Mrs. Abby Johnson 
Perkins.Nov. 22, 1865; had seven children: i, Emily, b. Dec. 30, 1841; d. Nov. 1, 1864. 
ii, Caroline E., b. Oct. 22, 1844; m. J. G. Reed.N. Y., Jan. 5, 1866; settled in Jersey City; 
d. April 22, 1868. iii, Mary H., b. June 5, 1846; m. O. E. Brown; reside in Parsons- 
field; have one daughter, Justeeu J. iv, Albert B., b. Sept. 7, 1848; m. in III., Oct., 

1877, agent of Am. Ex. Co., 111. v, Frances, b. Nov. 2, 1851 ; m. Wm. E. Bush; reside in 
Jersey City, vi, Annie O., b. June 1, 1853; m. W. S. Hinkley; reside in Jersey City, 
vii. Charles O., b. June 18,1859, agent Am. Ex. Co., 111. 

Smith, Daniel, b. 1799; m. Dorcas Connor, daughter of Jesse Connor, carpenter, 
farmer; resided many years in Saco, later came to North Parsonsfield, thence to Maple- 
wood; is yet living and active; has two sons and two daughters : Daniel jr., residing 
w ith father; m.; no children. StillmanC, m. Abby Hodsdon, of Parsonsfield ; resides 



I 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 407 

in Boston; has one son, residing with father, unmarried; and a daugliter, Dorcas, 
wife of Joseph Lord of Newfield. 



John Stacy came to Parsonsfield in 1795; was b. 1764, in Berwick; ra. Ruth Gould; 
settled near Porter Bridge; d. 1S37; wife d. 1865; had children: 1, Oliver, 2, Salome, b. 
in Berwick ; 3, Jordan ; 4, Hannah, born in Parsonsfield, and 5, George, bora in Porter. 
Children all settled in Porter, and are all dead. Oliver^ had two wives and eleven chil- 
dren. Jordan had eleven children. Salome m. Jonathan Fox, and had four children- 
Hannah, m. John Mason; had six children. George had two. The original John was 
a good shot. He killed at one shot '6 cub bears soon after he moved to Porter. 

STAPLES. 

Oliver W., b. in Waterborough, 1832, m. Lydia, a daughtor of Thomas Tarbox, 'n 
1867; settled iu Parsonsfield; had three children: i, Clara A., b. 1869; d. 1879. ii. 
Lizzie P., b. 1871. iii, William F., b. 1876; d. 1880. 



The first settler wns a Levi Towle. He m. Ruth Marden; d. in 1815, at the age of 
90 or more; had eight children, ^iz. : Jonathan, Steven, James M., Jeremy, Sally, 
Polly, Simeon, and Annie, Jonathan settled in Eaton, N. H.; Steven in Effingham, 
N. H.; James in Portland, Me; Jeremy, d. young; Simeon, b. June 19, 1772; m. Betsy 
Moore, 1796; d. July 14, 1845; wife d. March 12, 1854; eight children were the result of 
this union: i, Betsy, b. 1797; ra. Job Colcord. ii, Abigail, b, 1799; m. Charles Col- 
cord, iii, Harvey M., b. 1801 (see page 273); m. Clarissa Knapp, 1826. Their children 
were Clara M. and Samuel Knapp (see page 151); she d. 1829, and Mr. Towle m. Chris- 
tina S. Morse, 1831. Their children: Melville C. (see pages 68-15), Ellen M. and Levi ; 
the last two, d. in 1855. iv, Ruth, b. 1805; m. John Doe. v, Mary, b. 1809; ra. JosepI\ 
Titcomb. vi, Levi, b. 1811; d. 18:32. vii, Sally, b. 1813; m. Daniel Littlefield. viii, 
Priscilla. b. 1815; ra. William E. Moulton. Clara M. Towle, b. 1827; m. Joseph A. 
Shores in 1852. Their children are Irwin I., b. 18.54; Sarah E., b. 18.59; Harvey T., b. 
1869. Two sons of Levi Towle, the first settler, were in the Revolutionary War; 
Jonathan, who was with Washington at Valley Forge, and Jaraes Marden, who was in 
the navy, and was killed in battle on board a man-of-war. 

TUCK. 
(By John Tuck,) 

The lineage of this family may be traced back 2.50 years, to Robert Tuck, the pro- 
genitor of all the families of that name in New England. He emigrated from England 
in lfi:36, and settled in Winnacunnet, now Hampton, N. H., in 1638. On his settle- 
ment, the town of Hampton granted him a considerable quantity of land, which 
continued in his possession and that of his male descendants 160 years, and during 
five generations. The names of the five men who each represented one of these gen- 
erations were: i, Robert Tuck, b. iu Suffolk County, England; d. in Hampton, in 
1664. ii, Edward Tuck, b. iu England; d. in Hampton, April 6, 1652. iii, John Tack 
(Deacon), b. in 1652; d. Jan. 4, 1742, aged 90. iv. Jonathan Tuck (Deacon), b. Sept. 



408 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

11, 1697; d. Feb. 3, 1781, aged. 83. v, Jonathan Tuck, b. Oct. 10, 1736; d. July 20, 1780. 
He m. Huliia Moulton, of Hampton, who d. in Paisonsfield, Feb. 6, 1825, aged 78. 
These were the parents of Samuel and John Tuck, who settled in Parsonsfield, the 
former in 1799, the latter in 1807. ,- 

Capt. Samuel Tuck b. Sept. 18, 1878, in Hampton; m. Nov. 9. 1801, Abigail Carter, 
of Exeter, X. H., b. March 1, 1775, d. March 21, 1863, aged 88. He d. Oct. 12, 1860, 
aged 82. They settled in Parsonsfield, on the eastern shore of Province Pond, 1799. 
Had five sons, as follows ; i, Jeremiah, "b. Oct. 17, 1802; d. unmarried, May 13, 1826. 
ii, Jonathan, b. Dec. 2, 1805; m. May 29, 1827, Mary Ann Philbrick, of Os.>ipee, N". H., 
who d. June 10, 1840, five weeks after the death of her husb lud, leaving four children : 
1, Elizabeth, of 12 years, m. July 27, 1848, Zimri Fogg; live in Minnesota. 2, Ada- 
line, b. Aug. 19, 1830; d. July 19, 1844. 3, Jeremiah, b. Sept. 22, 1833; lives in Hlinois, 
unmarried. 4, Pembroke, b. Jan. 26, 1836; d. in infancy. 5, Abbie M., b. Dec. 2, 
1838; m. June 7, 1859, Charles M. Young, of Stoneham, Mass.: have Belmont H., 
Emma F., Blanche M. and Ora Bell. She died in 1883. iii, John Carter, b. March 
28, 1808; m. March 13. 1833, Susan Channell, of Georgeville, P. Q. Children: 1. Fitz 
John, b. April 26, 1855; 2, James Edmund, b. Feb. 5, 1837; 3, Mary Ann, b. Nov. 25, 
1838; 4, Charles S.. b. May 6, 1841; 5, Helen France.s, b. June 1.5, 1843; 6, William E., 
b. Jan. 6, 1847; 7, Eva S., b. Feb. 5, 1852; 8, Whitfield Leon, b. June 13, 18.5.5. iv, 
James M., b. July 15. 1810; m. Abigail Huntress, Oct. 8, 1834. Children: 1, Caroline 
A, b. Sept. 24, 1837; m. Oct. 3, 1855, Reuben L. Cooper. 2, Samuel H., b. Jan. 16, 
1839; was a soldier in the war; d. in Virginia, April 12, 1865. 3, Eliza Jane, b. June 

9, 1840; m. Jan. 5, 1861, Bennetts. Lougee; have one child, Fred Everett, b. Nov. 1, 
1866. 4, Mary A., b. Feb. 25, 1812; m. Jan. 1, 1867, Charles W. Warren; have one 
child, Maude May. 5. Julia Annette, b. July 22, 1843; m. Charles L. Tarbox; have 
one child, Edith May, b. March, 1869. 6, Harriet Adaline, b. Feb. 16, 1845; d. unmar- 
ried, March 1.", 1870. 7, James Lewis Cass, b. July 27. 1846. 8, Susan E., b. Feb. 3 
1848; d. May 9, 1867. 9, John R . b. Aug. 14, 185! ; m. July 4, 1876, Maria A. Field. 

10. Ella G., b. Aug. 1, 18.53; m. Nov. 10, 187-5, Byron H. Wood. They have: 1, James 
Perley, b. Oct. 10, 1876. v, Samuel (see page 325). 

John Tuck was b. in Hampton, N. H., Aug. 23, 1780, and moved to Parsonsfield in 
1807; m. Betsey Towle, of Hampton, who was b. Aug. 5, 1783, d. Aug. 5, 1860. Mr. 
Tuck d. April 22, 1847, aged 66 years, 8 mos. Children: i, Jonathan, b. Sept. 21, ISOl ; 
m. 1st, Lois Bean, of Gilford, N. H. They had: 1, McKenzie, b. Oct. 28, 1827; d. un- 
married, June 24, 1850. 2, Sarah, b. Dec. 27, 1829; d. June 24, 1850. His wife, Lois, 
d. Feb. 11, 1834. He married 2d, Polly Tripp, of Alfred, and had two children: 1, 
Lois Ann, b. Jan. 15, 1837; m. E. F. Pillsbury, of Biddeford; d. in 1878, leaving three 
daughters, Carrie T., Mary Lois and Emma F. 2, Caroline, b. April 25, 1848; d. un- 
mirried, Aug. 1, 1856. Mr. Tuck was militia captain, a farmer, teacher, business man, 
representative to Legislature from Parsonsfield; d. in Biddeford while mayor of the 
city, Jan. 19. 1861, having been postmaster of Biddeford 14 consecutive years, ii, 
Sarah, b., Dec. 14, 1804; m. John Hodgdon, of Effingham, N. H. ; d. Oct. 8, 1829 
They had: 1, John, b. in 1824; lives, unmarried, in Eflingham. 2, Amzi, b. in 1826; d. 
in childhood, iii, Betsey, b. Aug. 25, 1807; m. in 1831, John Hodgdon, who had beeil 
the husband of her deceased sister; have one daughter, Sarah, b. in 1835, m. Hiram 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 4O9 

Davis, of Tamworth, N. H., and have two sous, Amasa and Amos Tuck, iv, Amos, 
b. Aug. 2, ISIO; m. Sarah Ann xNTudd, of Hampton, b. Oct. 13, 1810, d. Feb. 21, 1847. 
(Further account of him may be found in the list of collef^e {graduates of Parsonsfield, 
page 60.) Children: 1, Abby Elizabeth, b. Nov. 4, 183'); m. 1st. Willijim R. Nelson, of 
Peekskill, N. Y., who d. Feb. 24, 1864. They had 1, Laura, b. Aug. 7. 18.i4, unmar- 
ried. 2, Nellie Tuck, b. Nov. 2.), 1856; m. Henry VV. Stevens(lawyer), of Concord, N. H. 
3, Mary D., b. April 18, 1859; m. Rev. Biinley Morj^nn, of Exeter, N. H. ; they have 
Julia, b. in 1883. Mrs. Nelson m. 2d, June 16, 1866, Orren F. Frye, of Boston (pub- 
lisher), who d. May 29, 1871. 2, Charles, b. Dec. 26, 1836: d. in childhood. 3, Ellen, 
b. April 4, I808; m. March 5, 1861, F. A. French (lawyei-), b. Sept. 12, 1817; reside in 
New York City, Have had: 1, Elizabeth R. b. Dec. 17, 1861. 2, Amos Tuck, b. 
July 20, 1863; m. Dec. 2, 1885, Pauline Leiloy. 3, Benjamin B., b. Jan. 27, 1872; d. 
in infancy. 4, Elsie, b. June 6, 1879. 4. Edward, b. June 6, 1841 ; d. in infancy. 5, 
Edward, b. Aug, 25, 1842; m. in 1872, in England, Julia Stell; residence in New York 
City. 6. Isabella, b. April 25, 1844; d. in childhood. 7, Charles, b. July 10, 1845; d. 
Dec. 10, 1849. 8. Amos Otis, b. Aug. 26, 1846; d. in childhood. Mr. Tuck m. 2d, Mrs. 
C. P. Shepard, of Salisbury, N. H., b. Jan. 20, 1815; d. Oct. 10, 1876. v, Mary, b. Oct. 
12, 1814; m. Dec. 5, 1844, Daniel Wiggin, of Parsonsfield. She d. July 16, 1850, aged 
35. They had: 1, Augeline, b. Jan. 2-5, 1848; m. J. C. Clarke, of Portland; d. Oct., 
1873. 2, Amos Otis, b. April 23, 1849; d. Feb. 4, 1871, at St. Louis, Mo. vi, John 
(see pages 23-315), b. April 8, 1819; m. 1st, Harriet A. Wiggin, Dec. 29, 1S44. Chil- 
dren: 1, Henry Alfred, b. April 22, 1846; d. in infancy. 2, Alfred J. b. Nov. 13, 1819; 
d. Dec. 27,1853. 3, Laura- Adaline, b. March 28, 1856; d. Nov. 1, 1877. 4, Arabel 
Frances, b. Sept. 9, 1857; d. Oct. 3. 1874. 5, Amos, b. July 8, 1861; resides in North 
Springfield, Mo. Mr. Tuck ra. 2d, Ida A. Merrow, of Newfield. They have; 1 
John, b. April 22,1880. 2, Mary Ahce, b. May 21, 1883. Mr. Tuck removed from 
Parsonsfield to Biddeford in 1848. 

TVADLKIGH. 

(1) Elisha, son of John and Patience Wadleigh, was born in South Berwick, Me., Feb. 
15, 1769; m. Sally Smith; settled in Parsonsfi.ld, 1799; d. July 5, 1872; wife d. May 
30, 1849. (See page 284.) Children of Elishai: 2, John, b. Oct. 7, 1792, m. Mrs. Sally 
Burbank,Nov. 20, 1817, d. Feb. 27, 1856; 3, James, b. Nov. 1, 1794, ra. Rachel Dearborn, 
Nov. 10,1817; 4, Lavinia, b. Dec. 20, 1796, m. Thomas Wedgwood, April 9, 1S18, d. 
April 17, ISyP,; 5, Daniel, b. Nov. 11, 1799, m. Mary Footman, d. Jan. 12, 1864; 6, 
Elisha jr., b. Sept. 29. 1801, m. Mary A. Burbank, April 1, 1824, d. Aug. 4, 1875; 7, 
Sally S.,b. Aug. 5, 1803; m. John Dearborn, Dec. 21, 1825 ; d. May 18, 18-50; 8, Catherine, 
b. Oct. 1, 1805, m. Stephen Wedgwood, Dec. 2, 1834, resides in Newport, Me. 

John Wadleigh^ had four sons and two daughters, viz: i, Elisha, m. Lydia Banks ; 
d. in Lyman, ii, Jesse, ra. Charlotte Hall; d. in New York, iii, Elizabeth, m. 

Edward Leavitt; d. in Saco. iv, John, m. ; resides in Manchester, N. H. v, 

William, m. Harriet Newell; d. at North Parsonsfield. vi, Sarah, m. Milton Goodwin ; 
d. in Saco. 

Jaraes'^had: i. James D., b. 1818; m. Harriet Moore, Dec. 12, 1842; settled in Gor- 

hara; d. , ii, George W., b. 1820; m. Abby Edgecorab, 18-47; resides at Kezar 

Falls; had four sons, Clarence, George W. jr., Ernest and Fred, Fred d, 1862 



4IO HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

The others are living and m. iii, Mary A., b. 1823; in. Joseph Thompson, of Par- 
sonsfield, 184fi; d. 1886; left one son. iv, Sarah J., b. 1825; d. 1842. v, Caroline D., 
b. 1827; m. Woodbury GooCh, of Biddeford, 18^6. vi, Hannah M., b. 1829; m. Dr. 
John S. Hidden, 1848; resides in Kansas, vii, Mahala T., b. 18:U; ni. Eldrude 
Plummer, of Biddeford. viii, Eliza F., b. Aug. 10, 1833 ; m. Elijah P. Lewis ; resides 
in Portland; has two sons, ix, Jacob D., b. 1836; m. Arvilla Hobson, 1858; resides 
at Sebn<ro Lake, Standish. x, Elisha B., b. 1839; ui. Jennie Eastman, 1867; resides at 
North Parsonsfield; have two children, Ernest and Ida. 

Daniel* (see page 140.) Elisha« (see page 286), had i, Caleb B., b. 1824 ; d. 1852. ii, 
Elisha S. (see page 295.) iii, Sally B., b. 1835; m. Joseph H. Littlefield, of Standish. 
iv, Lemuel M., b. 18 59; d. 1858. S illy^ (see page 310). Lavinia,* and Catherine^ moved 
to Newport, and each had several children, some residing in Newport, and some in 
Lowell, Mass. 

■WEDGTVOOD. 

1, Jesse, son of John, a native of England, was b. in Newmarket, N. H., 1761; m. 
Mehitable Folsom, 1785, settled in Parsonsfield, 1782; d. 1837; wife d. 1824. They 

had two sons and seven daughters: 2, Mehitable, b. 1786; m. William Blazo; d. . 

3, Sally, b. 1788 ; m. 1st, Silas Burbauk ; 2d, John Wadleigh ; d. . 4, Eliza, b. 1790; 

m. Dr, Moses Sweat; d. 1860 (see page 136). 5, Jesse, b. 1792; m. Katherine Paine; d. 
1876. 6, Polly, m. Abram Marston ; d. 1874. 7, Lydia, b. 1794 ; d. 1801. 8, Hannah, 
b. 1798; m. John Moore; d. 1854. 9, Susan, b. 1800; m. Jabez Towle; d. 1853. 10, 
Thatcher, b. 1802 ; m. Melinda Eaton ; d. 1874. 

Children of Sally (3) and Silas Burbank:— i, Miriam, m. Rev. Peter S. Burbank ; 
children: Fannie, m. Mr. Wharton of Penn. ; Malcolm, m. Miss White, reside in 
Tenn. ; Eliza, m. Daniel Conway, conductor on B. & M. ; Marcie. ii, Lydia, m. John 
Burnham ; children: Rhoda, m. W. H. Wilmarth, had one son, who died; Thatcher, 

m. Deborah Hayes, had one daughter Fannie, d. ; Melissa, m. Dr. Severance, had 

six children ; John m. , resides in Dover, N. H. iii, Silas, jr., m. 1st, Mary 

Burbank; children: Silas (see page 155); Thatcher; Mary, m. Richard Abbot; Har- 
riet, m. Thomas Lord; Melinda, m. Mr. Pomeroy ; Moses; Anuie; Fred. Children by 
second marriage, four sons and two daughters (see Wadleigh genealogy). 

Children of Eliza (4) and Dr. Moses Sweat (see pag«s 63, 127, 146, 147). Children of 

Dr. Moses E. (page 63) and Rebecca Hubbard: — John; Harry, d. ; Mabel, m. W. 

D. D. Churchill; George, m. daughter of Jordan Stacy, of Porter, resides with father, 
has two children. 

Children of Jesse (5):— i, Silas B., d. 1842 (see page 143). ii, Mehitable F., m. 

Andrew B. Ross; six children: Jesse S., d. 1863; Abby, b. , d. ; Frank A., 

m. Nellie Orr; Thatcher; Ida B., m. Blanchard Pray, d. ; Ruth T., d. 1876. iii, 

William P., d. 1839. iv, Catherine A., d. 1841. v, Jesse A., m. Judith Marston ; one 
child MaiyK., m. J. C. Miles, vi, John T., m. 1st, Ruth Topliff; children: Rose K. 
and Blanche F. ; m. 2d, Fannie E. Bowers, vii, Lydia A., d. 1873. viii, Mary M., m. 
B. F. Haley ; one son, Jesse D., a physician in Limerick, Me. 

Children of Susan (9): — Mary A., d. ; Mehitable, d. ; Susan, d. ; Jabez 

O., m. Orduey. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 4I I 

Children of Thatcher (10):— Mehitable F. J., m. Jesse Gould, Abby R. E. Eliza 
A. S., d. 1859. Amanda C, d. 1860. 

Lot Wedgwood^ was the next to settle in Parsonsfield. He was b. in Newmarket, 
N. H., 1757; m. Elizabeth Smith; moved to Parsonsfield, 1785; d. 1812; wife d. 1803. 
He had six sons: i, Lot, jr., b. 1786; m. Elizabeth Wingate; resided at North Par- 
sonsfield; d. ; no children, ii, John, settled in Cornish, iii, Millett, settled 

in Berwick, iv, Thomas, b. ; m. Lovina Wadleigh, 1818; settled in Newport, 

Me.; d. . v, Stephen, m. Catherine Wadleigh, 1824; settled in Newport; d. 

. vi, James, a sea-captain. Lot,i m. a second wife, and had four children: 8, 

vii, Jefferson, b. 1805. viii, Lydia, b. 1808; m. Horace Pike, of Cornish, ix, "William 
B., lawyer, b. 1810. x, Nancy, b. 1811. 

John Wedgwood, son of Jonathan Wedgwood, of Hampton, N. H. ; b. 1764; was a 
soldier in Revolution; was twice married, 1st to Polly Drake, aud 2d to Polly Towle; 
moved to Parsonsfield, and d. 1845; had children: i, Mary. m. Enoch Neal. ii, Eliza- 
beth, d. young, iii, Jonathan, m. Mary Doe; resided in Effingham, iv, Josiah Wedg- 
wood, resided in Parsonsfield; d. 1880. v, David, moved to Saco. vi, Ruth, m. 

Chapman; resided in Parsonsfield. vii, Lucy, m. Benaiah Hobbs; resides in Saco. viii, 
Nancy, m. Levi Champion; resided in Effingham; d. 1S82; ix, Levi, d. 1833. x, John, 
xi, Joseph, b. April 22, 1818 (see page 349); m. 1842, Jane T. Bailey; their children 
.were: 1, Anna, m. Harrison P. Bradstreet, of Danvers, Mass.; 2, Johir B., m. Abbie 
Goodwin, 1870, d. 1879, had three children, Albert, Jessie and Lizzie; 3, Anson B., m. 
Lizzie CofSn, Sonierville, Mass., 1885, resides in Boston; 4, William H., m. Nellie 
Everhard, resides in Worcester, Mass.; 5, Franklin J,, unmarried, resides in Lynn, 
Mass. 

WEEKS. 

(See page 362.) 

The descendants of Samuel Weeks are numerous. He had children: 1, Noah, b. 

1768; m. Anna Pendexter, of Cornish, 1792; d. 1851; had six children: i, Ichabod, b. 

1794; has two sons residing in Parsonsfield. James and Austin, ii, Henry, b. 1797; 

m. Pendexter; had two children, Mercy B., who ra. Moses R. Brackett, residing 

in Saco, and Edward P., who m. Harriet Pendexter, and resides at East Parsonsfield, 
ii, Henry, d. 1825. iii, Mary, who m. David Johnson, moved to Garland, Me., and 
James W. (see page .363.) 2, Eliphalet, b. 1770'; m. Susannah Perry; had six sons 
and one daughter. Samuel and John settled at East Parsonsfield, and the other 
four left town. 3, James, b. 1772; d. 1802. 4, John, b. 1774; settled in Cornish, 
Me.; d. 1835. 5, Mary, b. 1776; m. Joseph Knight; had seven children; d. 1842. 
6, Susannah, b. 1778; d. 1784. 7, Samuel, b. 1780; m. Mehitable Knight; settled at 
Kezar Falls, and later removed with his family to Eastern Maine. 8, Ichabod, b. 1782; 
d. 1784. 9, Mathias, b. 1785; m. 1st, Susan Day; 2d, Olive Hammond; d. 1855; had 
sons, Albion P., resides in Cornish, and Moses, who m. Mrs. Morrison, and d. 1857. 
10, Levi, b. 1788; m. 1st, Catherine Pen-y; 2d, Anna Pendexter Weeks; d. 1869. By 
his first wife he had four children: i, Hannah, wife of James Lord, of Limerick; ii, 
Adeline (unmarried); iii, Lorenzo L., m. Alice Murphy, d. 1849, aged 28 years, left two 
daughters, Mary A. and Sarah Maria, residing in Parsonsfield; iv, William, d. in 
infancy. By his second wife, v, Catherine, wife of John Lord, of Limerick, aud Mary, 



412 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

who d. 1879. 11, Benjamin, b. 1791 ; m. Nancy Barns, of Cornish, 1814; d. 1836; had 
nine children, ail dead but two, Mrs. Nancy Staples, of East Parsonsfield, and Benjamin 
Weeks, of Limerick, Me. 12, Mercy, b. 1803; m. 1st, Daniel Pendexter, 1819; 2d., 
Chamberlain; d. 1882; had one daughter. 

WENTWORTH. 
(See page 304.) 

Tappan, son of Evans and Dolly (Wentworth) Wentworth, and descendant of 
Rev. William Wentworth, who came from England and settled in Dover about 1640, 
was b. in Somersworth, N. H., April 16, 1774; m. Elizabeth Bradbury, of Saco, .July, 
1S04; came to Parsonsfield, 1806; d. June 21, 1850; wife d. Nov. 4, 1849. Their chil- 
dren were: 1, Thomas B., b. Jan. 28, 1806, ra. Sarah Fernald, 1850, resides on home- 
stead ; 2, Zenas Paine, b. June 15, 1809 (see page 63); 3, Giles Merrill, b. June 17, 1811 
(see page 305); 4, Elizabeth, b. Nov. 10, 1813, m. Samuel L. Ricker, of Parsonsfield, 
d. March 28, 1881; no children. 

Issue of Thomas B.i (see page 305): i, Charles I., b. Feb. 17, 1851 ; m. Mattie A. 
Banks, June 24, 1877; they have four children, three sons and one daughter. He 
resides on the homestead with his father. Frank and Zenas are unmarried, as is also 
Elizabeth, the daughter. 

WHITTEN. 

It is claimed the three brothers, Thomas, Samuel and John, emigrated from 
England early in the 17th century; settled in N. H. John married an English lady, 
Margaret McRoy, to whom was born a son Richard, 1751. He m. Mercy Jose, Scar- 
borough, Me., Nov. 22, 1766; d. April 3, 1845. Their sou, Simon J., b. Feb. 27, 1786; 
m. Mary B. Pike, Oct. 25, 1810; d. in Parsonsfield. Jan. 31, 18-59 (see page 319). They 
had fourteen children, viz: 1, Nancy T.,b. Jan. 10, 1812. 2, Albert, b. Jan. 15, 1813. 
3, Airmine, b. March 25, 1814; 4, Mary A., b. May 24, 1816. 5, Mercy J., b.June 26, 
1818. 6, Sarah P., b. Oct. 19. 1819. 7, Simon, b. M irch 29, 1821. 8, Dolly P., b. June 
23, 1822; d. 1824. 9, Hannah H., b. Jan 15, 1821. 10, Henry A., b. Nov. 16, 1825. 11, 
Ira D., b. Jan. 3, 1827. 12, Edwin A., b. Jan. 14, 1829. 13, John P., b. March 29, 1830. 
14, James S., b. Feb. 11, 1832. 

Their descendants: — 1, Nancy T., m. John S. D.ivis, Nov. 27, 18.50; have two children: 
i, Lizzie M., m. Orrin S. Berry; had childreu: Walter H., Frank O., Harry B., Lizzie 
M., Nellie M., Ammon A; ii, Frank O., m. Jennie D. Underwood. 2, Albert, m. 
Elmira Hayford, April 2, 1837; have children: i, Lydia A., m. William L. Johnson; 
children: Emma E., Addie L., Frank W., Minnie L., Harry, ii, Lewis T., m. Hannah 
Blaisdell, children, Maud F. aud Madge F. ; iii, Mariami B., m. John Colby, one son, 
John E. ; iv, Josephine P., m. Albert M. Thing, children, Isabel and Edwin A. ; v, Charles 
W. ; vi, Simon A. m. Miss Huckius, Jan. 21, 1882, children, George A. and Ralph E. 
vii, Edwin A. viii, Elmer E., m. Nancy J. Divis, cliildren are, Gracie E. aud Willie E. 

3, Airmine, m. John P. Bennett (see page 320); had three children: i, Susan E., m. 
David C. Pike, Jan. 1862, children, Walter W., Fred B., Lillian A.; ii, John (see page 
321); iii, Mary A. m. James C. Ayer, children, Harry B,, Fred J., Frank P., Leon M. 

4, Mary A., m. Samuel S. Brown; had children: i, Araminta E.; ii, Amelia M., m. 
John H. Sawyer; iii, Clara E.; iv, Oscar J.; v, Mary W. ; vi, John E., m. Georgia A. 



■1 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 413 

Jackson, have one son Oscar S. 5, Mercy J., ni. John Hobbs March 30, 1857; resides 
in Parsonsfield. 6, Sarah P., m. Alexander Goojjins; reside in Saco. 9, Hannah H., 
m. Stephen Thurston, Nov. 5, 1846; their children are: i, Georgia A., m. Frank L. 
Moulton; ii, John H., m. Mary E. Clark, one child Mabel E. 10, Henry A., m. Mary 
A. Robins, Feb. 16, 1815; child, Mary L., in. John Littlefield, have children, Hattie M., 
Aseuath. 12, Edwin A., ra. Mary R. Hanson; had children: i, Frances E., m. Henry 
Berry, have children, Hermon D. and Alice M. ; ii, George E., m. Delle Lord, just re- 
ceived degree of xi d., at Dartmouth, 1887; iii, Mabel E. 13, John P.,ni. Hannah 
Peaslee; their children are: i, Lillian L. and ii, Blanche. 14, James S., m. Sarah J. 
Berry, Sept. 9, 1866; their children, i, Fred; ii, Gertrude E. 7, Simon, unmarried; 
entered college, failing health prevented him from pursuing the course; d. Oct. 5, 
1847. Ira remains in Parsonsfield, unmarried. 

WIGGIX. 
(See page 333.) 

Children of Nathan and Olive (Weymouth) Wiggin: i, Joseph, b. Jan. 26, 1783; d. 
Nov. 8. 1817. ii, Nathan, b. Feb. 7, 1785. iii, Nathaniel, b. May 7, 1787. iv, Sally, b. 
March 13, 1783; d. Dec. 24, 1825. v. Mitty, b. May 31, 1701. vi, Daniel, b. April 18, 
1794; d. Oct. 11, 1867. vii, Samuel, b. Sept. 9, 1796; d. April 22, 18-52. viii. Lot, b. 
Jan. 26, 1799; d. Aug 8, 1852; ix, Drusilla, b. May 9, 1802; m. Thomas H. Ricker. 

vi, Daniel, m. 1st, Hannah Dorman, Oct. 17, 1816. Their children: Joseph, d. Se 

16, 1823; Olive, b. June 2, 1817, m. , d. Nov. 6. 1836; xMelvina, d. Feb. 18, 18 

Augustas, b. June 20, 1821, d. April 8, 1843; Emily, d. Feb 16, 1837; Harriet A., b. 
Jan. 4, 1824, m. John Tuck, Dec. 29, 1844, d. Jan. 11, 1872; Sally P., b. Jan. 4, 1826, d, 
Dec. 6, 18.5'.); William H., b. Feb. 9, 1828, m. Lucy Mitchell, St. Louis, Mo., 1879; 
Joseph M., b. Feb. 26, 1830, d. Dec. 6, 1851; Elmira F., b. May 15, 1832, d. Sept. 17, 
1848; Nathaniel D., b, Jan. 20, 18:!9, m. Mary Cleaves, Boston, d. March 20, 1882. He 
m. 2d, Mary Tuck. Had three children, viz.: Amos, Mary A., and Amos O. He ra. 
again Nancy B. Griffin. 

vii, Samuel (see page 333). 

viii, Lot, m. 1st, Hannah Parsons, Oct. 8, 1820. Had two sons and seven daughters: 
i, Abigail A., b. July 30, 1820; m. Caleb P. Fessenden, Rockland, ii, Olive, b. June 
28, 1823; d. Dec. 8, 1831. iii, Catherine P., b. Aug. 10, 1825; m. Samuel Garland, Dec. 
16, 18.52. Have two daughters, Clara, and Mary K. iv, Sally P., b. Aug. 7, 1827; m. 
Charles Fessenden. v, Nancy, b. Oct. 6, 1829; d. June 4, 1851. vi, Miranda P., b. Oct. 
4, 1831; m. Dr. Charles E. Hill ; d. May 1, 1863. Had one son, Charles, vii, Nathan, 
b. July 5, 1834'; m. Sarah E. Libbey ; d. 1837; had two children, Frederick N^., and 
Abby F. viii, Joseph P, b. June 0, 1836; d. Sept., 1839. ix, Clarissa, b. July, 18-39. 
He married 2d, Sally Adams ; 3d, Mrs. Caroline O. Hale. Had one son, Joseph H. 

WOODSOM. 

Alonzo F., son of John and; Hannah (Watson), b. Nov. 8, 1832; m. Nov. 8. 18.55, Era- 
ma R. Cassley, of Harrson; has two children, Annie C, b. 1859, m. Charles S. Leavitt. 
and Eugene A., b. July 6, 1866. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD, 

PART V. 

MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 

In this part of the work will appear such papers as would not fall 
under any especial classification, as well as some articles, facts and data 
received after the manuscript for the other parts of the work was in 
the hands of the printer. 

We have a true copy of the deed of Capt. Sandy to Francis Small, of 
the territory or tract of land known as " Osibe," of which Parsonsfield 
is a part. It was copied for us from the original deed, now owned by 
a gentleman in Virginia, by Lauriston W. Small, a descendant of said 
Francis, in the following line, viz : Francis, Samuel, Samuel, John, 
Henry, Humphrey, Lauriston W. It was forwarded to John Bennett, 
Esq., who had written Mr. Small, inviting him to be present at our 
centennial celebration. After giving his reasons for declining, he 
wrote the following and enclosed the copy of deed, which hereafter 
appears. (In making copies we have followed carefully the style, cap- 
italization, etc., of the original.) 

104 CoLU3iBiA Heights, 

Brooklyn, Aug. 5, 1885. 

Friend John Bennett: — I understand that the people of Parsonsfield are to 
celebrate the town's centennial, and that the sons and daughters of the town 
who now reside elsewhere are coming home to help do it. 

As one of my very grandfathers once owned the entire town, and as it now 
belongs to me after a sort, I hasten to extend to each one of you who are now 
residing upon my ancestral lands, a hearty invitation to make yourselves as much 
at home there as though you really owned the broad lands upon which you are 
living. Let not the thought that you occupy my Ipnd, rent free, mar the pleasure 
of the occasion. And to all those who return for a few days to the place of their 
birth, from their adopted homes in other states, I bid a cordial welcome to their 
old home upon my paternal acres. 

Were I a son of Parsonsfield, I would offer the following toast: 

Francis Small, the first white owner of-the town. May its present owners 
emulate his enterprise, and live to as mellow an old age. Thy friend, 

Lauriston W. Small. 

Small lived to be almost one hundred years old. 



41 6 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

COPY OF DEED FROM CAPT, SANDY TO FRANCIS SMALL, 

To a'U People to whom this Present Wrighting shall Come I Capt Sandy of 
osobe in ISTevv England sagmore send greeting Kno ye that I the said Cap* Sandy 
for and in Consideration of two large Indian Blankets two gallons of Kum two 
Pounds of Powder four Pounds of Muscat Balls and twenty strings of Indian 
Beads and with several other articles by me Received of Francis Small of Kit- 
tery in the County of York Indian Trader have given granted Bargained allined 
Enfoofi d Contirmed and delivered and by these Presents Do fully freely and 
absolutely give grant Bargain Sell alline Enfoof convey confirm and Deliver unto 
him the Said Francis Small his heirs and asgs forever all that my great Tract of 
Land at osobe containing Twenty miles square and lying and Being Between 
the two Rivers of great osobe and Little osobe so Called and Being the Same 
land where the said Francis Smalls trading house now stands and from the 
River neehewanock near Humphry Chadborns Loging Camp and to Extend 
Northerly and Easterly to Saco River to have and to hold unto him the Said 
Francis Small his heirs and assigns forever with all the Privileges of hunting . . 
. . with all water courses mines minerals wood underwood Stones swamps 
meadows Ponds with all . . . Privileges and Proportions Belonging to the afore- 
said Tract of Land unto him the Said Francis Small his heirs and assigns forever 
to his and their own Proper use Benefit and Behoof forever and I the Said 
Capt Sandy Do hereby Covenant Promise and Engage for myself and my heirs 
unto him the Said Francis Small his heirs and assigns forever Feasibly to have 
hold and acquire and Possess the aforesaid Tract of Land without the least 
hindrance or_molestation from me the said Cap' Sandy in witness of this Said 
Cap' Sandy have hereunto Sett my hand and seal this Twenty Eight Day of 
November one thousand Six hundred Sixty and Eight i^i* 

Signed Sealed and Delivered in /^M^ 

V. i. * Cap* fepcrill Sandy 

Presents of us ^ P^J 

Samson y Buly &^ 

.„ __ , mark 

Poo Trm hoason 

York Ss I Received Aug 28*'' and 

Recorded with the Records of 

Deeds for said County Lib 42 

fol 239 Atts David Moulton Reg 

An account of the purci^ase of the township with copy of records 
relative thereto, appears on pages 190 and 191. 

The following is a copy of the 

ACT OF INCORPORATION. 

"Commonwealth of Massachusetts: — In the year of our Lord one thousand 
seven hundred and eighty-five An Act for the incorporating a certain tract of 
Land situate between the Rivers of Great and Little Ossipee in the County of 
York which was settled by Thomas Parsons and his associates. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 417 

Whereas the Inhabitants of the said tract of Land have represented to this 
Court that at great Labour and Expense they have severally settled the said 
tract: but by reason of their unincorporated state are not in a capacity to raise 
money necessary for repairing Eoads and supporting the preaching of the Gospel 
and schools, nor of answering the demands that may arise for their proportion of 
the public Tax, 

Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Court Assembled and by the authority of the same, that the tract of Land afore- 
said, bounded as follows, viz., Beginning at Great Ossipee Eiver. where the 
province Line (so-called) between iS"ewharapshire and the late province of 
Massachusetts crosses said River, thence running south eight degrees West by 
the said Line to the top of a Mountain three quarters of a Mile South of a Pond 
called Province pond, thence East Eight degrees South by a spotted Line to an 
Elm Tree spotted, near a small Frog pond, thence ISTorth eight degrees East by a 
spotted Line to the bank of Great Ossipee River thence westerly by said River to 
the bounds first mentioned, Containing by estimation thirty-six square English 
miles,* be and hereby is erected into a Town by the Name of Parsonsfield. 
And that the Inhabitants thereof be, and they hereby are vested with all the 
powers, privileges and immunities which the inhabitants of Towns within this 
Commonwealth Do, or may by Law enjoy. And be it further Enacted that Simon 
Frye, Esq., be and hereby is empowered to Issue his Warrant to some principal 
Inhabitant of the Said Town requiring him to warn the inhabitants thereof to 
meet at such time and place as he shall therein set forth to choose all such Offi- 
cers as Towns are by Law required and impowered to choose in the Month of 
March Annually 

Provided always that this act shall be so construed, anything therein to 
the contrary notwithstanding as not to effect the claim of this Commonwealth, 
or other corporate body, or of any private person whatever, to the said tract of 
Land, or any part thereof, if any such claim exists. 

In the House of Representatives, March 5, 1785. 
This Bill having had three Several readings, passed to be enacted. 

Samuel A. Otis, Speaker. 

In Senate, March 8, 1785. 
This Bill having had also three several Readings, passed to be enacted. 

Samuel Adams President. 
Approved: Thomas Cushing. 

True Copy. John Avery, Jr., Secretary.''^ 

* It contains really sixty -four square miles. Thirty-six square miles was all that Mr. Parsons was enti- 
tled to. See page 192 for explanation of overplus. The township when purchased was bounded by the 
line of survey made under Parsons by Joseph Cram, of Exeter, in 1771. 

27 



41 8 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

In accordance with the provision of this act, Simon Frye, Esq., 
issued the following call to Thomas Parsons, Esq., for a town-meeting 
in the new town of Parsonsfield : 

"commonwealth of MASSACHUSETTS 

YoKK, ss: 

To Thomas Parsons, one of the principal Inhabitants of Parsonsfield in said 
County, Greeting: — 

In the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid, you are hereby authorized and 
required forthwith in due Course of Law to notify and warn the freeholders and 
other Inhabitants of Parsonsfield, qualified as the Law directs to vote in Town 
Meeting; to meet at the Dwelling House of Thomas Parsons, Esq., in said Par- 
sonsfield on the 29th of August ensuing, then and there to vote on the following 
Articles (viz): 

Istly To Choose a Moderator to govern said Meeting 2dly A Town Clerk 
3dly Selectmen 4thly A Constable or Constables 5thly All other town Officers 
that Towns are by Law required, and impowered to choose in the Month of 
March Annually. Given under my Hand and Seal at Fryeburgh the sixth day of 
August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-first, 
and in the tenth year of the Independence of the United States of America. 

Simon Frye, Justice.''^ 

We shall make but few extracts from the town records. They were 
well kept and have been well preserved. The record of the first Town- 
meeting is as follows : 

"Met according to the foregoing warrant. Thomas Parsons Esq. Chosen Mod- . 
erator to govern said Meeting. John Doe Town Clerk and sworn. Thomas 
Parsons Esq. John Doe and Gilman Lougee Select Men and sworn Samuel 
Page Constable and sworn Gideon Doe and Thomas Parsons jun. Assessors 
and sworn. Elisha Piper Josiah Colcord James Marston and David Mudget 
Tything Men. George Bickford, Taylor Page Philip Paine Gideon Doe and 
Samuel Lougee Surveyors of Highways and sworn Job. Colcord Field driver 
and sworn Walter ]^eal Pound Keeper and sworn David Marston and Edmund 
Chase Fence viewers and sworn. Edmund Chase Surveyor of Lumber Jer- 
emiah Avery Sealer of Leather Tanner Doe Lot Layer — Samuel Peas David 
Hobbs and Edmund Chase Committee to Examine the Selectmen's accounts." 

Soon thereafter, Col. Waters, of Boston, set up a claim to the tract 
of land in behalf of the proprietors of Bridgett Phillips. Then a com- 
mittee of Washington, now Newfield, issued a request to Parsonsfield 
to yield to them " their two southernmost Ranges to be Incorporated 
with Washington." Then internal disturbances arose, in consequence 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 3I9 

of the large size of town, in electing military officers, and the town 
was divided into two districts for said purpose. In all these perplexing 
matters the inhabitants acted well and wisely. 

Some few of their votes show the great progress in moral reforms 
which have been made, although we have waned equally in religious 
zeal, not in Christian principle. The taxes were paid in part in corn 
and produce, and in 1792, it was 

" Voted, The constable shall be directed to receive his corn or produce tax in 
four different parts of the Town which shall be hereafter appointed." 

It would appear that the office of constable was of some pecuniary 
advantage, for he was likewise collector of this unwieldly tax, and 
despite this fact it was 

^^ Voted, The office of constable and Collector be set up at Vendue, and that 
the person who will bid most in favor of the Town shall be constable and Col- 
lector; provided he shall get sufficient Bondsman. The offices aforesaid of Con- 
stable and Collector were set up at Vendue and struck off to John Doe, Jun., 
who was to give eighteen shillings and six pence, as aforesaid." 

*^ Voted, That John Doe Jun., be the Constable and Collector with his giving 
bond, — sworn." 

^^ Voted, That twelve shillings out of the eighteen shillings and six pence 
given by John Doe Jun., for the constable and collectors Offices, be laid out in 
grog." 

The opening of highways occupied a great deal of attention for many 
years, as did also the question of erecting house of worship and sup- 
sporting preaching. The town-meetings were frequent and animated. 

It is not strange that in their interest for the growth and prosperity 
of the new town which was becoming so rapidly populated, that some 
votes and acts are found recorded which had not the sanction of law. 
At the annual town-meeting in 1799, the following vote was passed and 
recorded :* 

''Voted, That every man or woman in the Town of Parsonsfield that shall suf- 
fer any thistles standing or growing on his or her cleared land after the fifteenth 
day of August next of those that will go to seed in the year 1799 shall forfeit and 
pay into the Town Treasury for the use of said Town, ten dollars and a Com- 
plaint from the several Surveyors against any Person to A Justice of the Peace 
shall be good against such deficient Person, said Surveyors chosen to inspect the 
several farms in said Town and to cut all thistles in their Several districts 
that' growing on the road. Voted, the above shall be a by-law." 

•It seems that thistles were a great annoyance on the newly cleared land. 



420 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

We give below a list of the Selectmen who have served in Parsons- 
field from its organization : 

1785, Thomas Parsons, John Doe, Gilraan Lougee. 1786, Jonathan 
Kinsman, Gilman Lougee, Elisha Piper. 1787, there was trouble and 
those chosen refused to serve, and another town-meeting was called, when 
Thomas Parsons, Jonathan Kinsman and Gideon Doe were elected. 1788, 
Jonathan Kinsman, David Hobbs, Samuel Hobbs. 1789, same. 1790, 
Thomas Parsons, Philip Paine, Jonathan Kinsman. 1791, David 
Hobbs, Jonathan Kinsman, John Doe. 1792, Philip Paine, David 
Hobbs, Jonathan Kinsman. 1793, Joseph Parsons, Samuel Lougee, 
John Doe, jr. 1794, David Hobbs, Joseph Parsons, Samuel Lougee. 
1795, David Hobbs, John Doe, jr., James Remick. 1796, Joseph Par- 
sons, Joseph Huckins, Samuel Lougee. 1797, same. 1798, same. 
1799, Joseph Parsons, David Marston, Samuel Lougee. 1800, same. 
1801, Joseph Parsons, David Marston, James Remick. 1802, Joseph 
Parsons, David Marston, John Paine. 1803, same. 1804, same. 1805, 
same. 1806, David Marston, Samuel Garland, William Blazo. 1807, 
David Marston, William Blazo, Simon Marston. 1808, same. 1809, 
iSimon Marston, William Blazo, Simeon Mudgett. 1810, same. 1811, 
same. 1812, same. 1813, Simon Marston, Moses Sweat, Simeon 
Mudgett. 1814, Simon Marston, David Marston, Simeon Mudgett. 
1815, Simon Marston, Thomas Parsons, Abner Kezar. 1816, Simon 
Marston, Thomas Parsons, William Blazo. 1817, John Moore, Hardy- 
Merrill, Ammi R. Lord. 1818, John Moore, 2d,* Hardy Merrill, Rufus 
Mclntire. 1819, Rufus Mclntire, John Moore, Hardy Merrill. 1820, 
John Moore, 2d, Hardy Merrill, Abner Kezar. 1821, Jonathan Piper, 
Hardy Merrill, Abner Kezar. 1822, same. 1823, Jonathan Piper, 
Hardy Merrill, Elliot Fernald. 1824, same. 1825, same. 1826, Jona- 
than Piper, Hardy Merrill, Abner Kezar. 1827, Jonathan Piper, Isaac 
JFelch, Abner Kezar. 1828, same. 1829, Abner Kezar, John Bailey, 
Benjamin Weeks. 1830, same. 1831, same. 1832, Tristram Redman, 
Harvey M. Towle, James W. Weeks. 1833, same. 1834, same. 1835, 
Tristram Redman, John Brackett, 2d, Gilman L. Bennett. 1836, same.f 
1837, John Brackett, 2d, Gilman L. Bennett, Jonathan Tuck. 1838, 

♦Probably same person as John Moore. 

t Of the list of jurors approved this year by the selectmen, composing fifty names, there is but one sur- 
vivor, John Pray, of East Parsoustield. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 421 

Gilman L. Bennett, John Brackett, 2d, Jonathan Tuck.* 1839, Jona- 
than Tuck, John Mudgett, James W. Weeks. 1840, same. 1841, 
John Mudgett, Alvah D^e, Jesse Wedgwood. 1842, same. 1843, 
Alvah Doe, Jesse Wedgwood, John Kezar. 1844, John P. Bennett, 
James Brackett, John Kezar. 1845, John Kezar, James Brackett, John 
P. Bennett. 1846, John P. Bennett, James Brackett, Robert T. Bhizo. 
1847, James Brackett, Robert T. Bhizo, Jacob Marston. 1848, same,. 
James Brackett died and, at a town-meeting called for that purpose, on 
July 1, 1848, Daniel Piper was chosen to fill the vacancy. 1849, Daniel 
Piper, Enoch W. Neal, John Kezar. 1850, same. 1851, Enoch W. 
Neal, William E. Moulton, Thomas B. Wentworth. 1852, William E. 
Moulton, Thomas B. Wentworth, Nathan Brown. 1853, same. 1854, 
same. 1855, John Brackett, 2d, John M. Ames, Gilman Lougee. 
1856, John Mudgett, Ira Moore, Jacob Dearborn. 1857, same. 1858, 
John M. Ames, Jacob Dearborn, Ivory Fenderson. 1859, Alvah Doe, 
Chase Boothby, Thomas Churchill. 1860, Chase Boothby, Thomas 
Churchill, Dominicus Ricker, jr. 1861, same. 1862, Chase Boothby, 
Dominicus Ricker, Elliot Fernald. 1863, Dominicus Ricker, Elliot Fer- 
nald, Joseph Dearborn. 1864, Elliot Fernald, Joseph Dearborn, Sam- 
uel Merrill. 1865, William E. Moulton, Asa A. Parsons, Jonathan W. 
Trueworthy. 1866, Alvah Doe, Jonathan W. Trueworthy, Joseph S. 
Dearborn. 1867, same. 1868, Joseph S. Dearborn, Samuel Merrill, 
Hardy Merrill. 1869, Joseph S. learborn, Samuel IN'errill, Loring T. 
Staples. 1870, Hardy Merrill, Loring T. Staples, Joseph Parsons. 
1871, Loring T. Staples, Joseph Parsons, James W. Cook. 1872, 
Joseph Parsons, John Neal, Nehemiah T. Libby. 1873, same. 1874, 
John M. Ames, Gilman Lougee, Ivory Fenderson. 1875, Thomas B. 
Wentworth, John Neal, Samuel G. Dearborn. 1876, John Neal, Sam- 
uel G. Dearborn, Otis B. Churchill. 1877, same. 1878, Otis B. 
Churchill, Eben G. Perry, Robert Merrill. 1879, Otis B. Churchill 
John Neal, Ivory Fenderson. 1880, John Neal, Robert Merrill, D^vid 
M. Parsons. 1881, same. 1882, David M. Parsons, Luther Neal, Wil- 
liam B. Davis. 1883, Luther Neal, William B. Davis, S. F. Perry. 
1884, William B. Davis, S. F. Perry, Luther Neal. 1885, S. F. Perry, 
Luther Neal, William B. Davis. 1886, Luther Neal, Brackett T. Lord 

*0f the forty-eight highway surveyors chosen this year, there are but three living, Jacob L. TaylQ.r 
James Perry and Daniel Littlefield. 



422 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



George F. Chapman. 1887, Brackett T. Lord, Melvin Pearl, L. A. j 

Brooks. I 

Names of the Superintending School Committees of Parsonsfield, j 
with the years each served, from the establishment of the office by an 

Act of the State Legislature in 1821, to the present time, 1887. ,j 

1821-25, Rufus Mclntire, Moses Sweat and Jonathan Piper. , 

1826, Rufus Mclntire, Moses Sweat and John Jameson. ] 

1827, Rufus Mclntire, Noah Tebbetts and Moses Sweat. | 

1828, Noah Tebbetts, James W. Bradbury and Jonathan Piper. | 

1829, Noah Tebbetts, Moses Sweat and James W. Bradbury. 
1830-33, Moses Sweat, Noah Tebbetts and Jonathan Piper. 

1834, Jonathan Piper, Noah Tebbetts and Gilman L. Bennett. 

1835, Jonathan Piper, Samuel Wiggin and Gilman L. Bennett. 

1836, Gilman L. Bennett, Samuel Wiggin and Harvey M. Towle. 
1837-38, Rufus Mclntire, Samuel Wiggin and Moses Sweat. 
1839-40, Moses Sweat, John P. Bennett and Harvey M. Towle. 
1841-42, Zechariah Jordan, Charles H. Green and Moses M. Smart. 
184.3-44, William E. Moulton, Gilman L. Bennett and Harvey M. Towle. 
1845, George W. Bickford, John Tuck and Joseph Pray. 
1846-47, John Tuck, Joseph Pray and Horace Piper. 

1848, Horace Piper, Joseph Pray and Enoch W. Neal. 

1849, Horace Piper, Joseph Pray and Alvah Doe. 

1850, Joseph Pray, John Garland and Ira Moore. 

1851, John Garland, Ira Moore, Nathaniel Brackett and H. G. O. Smith.* 

1852, John Garland, Ira Moore and H. G. O. Smith. 

1853, Ira Moore, H. G. O. Smith and John Garland. 

1854, H. G. O. Smith, John Garland and David O. Moulton. 

1855, John Garland, H. G. O. Smith and David O. Moulton. 

1856, Dominicus Ricker, John Garland and H. G. O. Smith, 

1857, Elisha S. Wadleigh, Dominicus Ricker and Jonathan Trueworthy. 

1858, Orlando T. Parks, Elisha S. Wadleigh and Dominicus Ricker. 

1859, John Garland, Orlando T. Parks and Elisha S. Wadleigh. 

1860, Elisha S. Wadleigh, John Garland and Orlando T. Parks. 

1861, Silas Moulton, Elisha S. Wadleigh and John Garland. 

1862, Alvah Doe, Silas Moulton and Elisha S. Wadleigh. 

1863, Edgar A. Neal, Alvah Doe and Silas Moulton. 

1864, Chase Boothby, Edgar A. Neal and Alvah Doe. 

1865, Emery S. Ridlon, Chase Boothby and Edgar A. Neal. 

1866, Luther Neal, Emery S. Ridlon and Chase Boothby. 

1867, Chase Boothby, Luther Neal and Emery S. Ridlon. 

1868, Emery S. Ridlon, Chase Boothby and Luther Neal. 
*Mr, Brackett died, and H. G. O. Smith was appointed to fill his place. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



423 



1869, Luther Neal, Emery S. Eidlon and Chase Boothby. 

1870, Alpheus Boothby, Luther Neal and Elisha S. Wadleigh. 

1871, Daniel O. Blazo, Alpheus Boothby and Luther Keal, 

1872, Philip W. Mclntire, Daniel O. Blazo and Alpheus Boothby. 

1873, Lorenzo Moulton, Loring T. Staples and Daniel O. Blazo. 

1874, Porter S. Burbank, Lorenzo Moulton and Loring T. Staples. 

1875, Charles T. Wentworth, Porter S. Burbank and Lorenzo Moulton. 

1876, J. Frank Dearborn, Porter S. Burbank and W. Scott Young. 

1877, Dominicus Bicker, J. Prank Dearborn and W. Scott Young. 

1878, Dominicus Bicker, W. Scott Young and J. Frank Dearborn. 

1879, J. Frank Dearborn, Dominicus Kicker and W. Scott Young. 

1880, Dominicus Kicker. J. Frank Dearborn and Lorenzo Moulton. 

1881, Orestes A, Kenuison, Lorenzo Moulton and J. Frank Dearborn. 

1882, Loring T. Staples, Orestes O. Kennison and Alvah O. Moulton. 

1883, Alvah O. Moulton, Elisha S. Wadleigh and Loring T. Staples. 

1884, C. C. Varney, Elisha S. Wadleigh and Alvah O. Moulton. 

1885, Dominicus Kicker, C. C. Yarney and Elisha S. Wadleigh. 

1886, C. C. Varney, Elisha S. Wadleigh and Dominicus Kicker. 

1887, Elisha S. Wadleigh, Dominicus Kicker and Lorenzo Moulton. 

A list of the native* school-teachers of Parsonsfield, from the organ- 
ization of the town in 1785 to 1885, or for one hundred years. 



John Allen, 
Charles Ames, 
Daniel Ames, 
John M. Ames, 
Zimri Ames, 
Henry Bailey, 
John Baily, 
Gilman L. Bennett, 
John Bennett, 
John P. Bennett, 
George W. Benson, 
James Madison Benson, 
George W. Bickford, 



MALE TEACHERS. 

Joseph F. Dearborn, 
Samuel G. Dearborn, 
Alvah Doe, 
Ira C. Doe, 
Oliver C. Doe, 
Orestes T. Doe, 
William K. Doe, 
Henry Dutch, 
Samuel Dutch, 
Charles H. Emerson, 
George E. Emerson, 
Luther O. Emerson, 
Thomas P. Emerson, 



Henry Merrill, 
John Merrill, 
Paul Merrill, 
Cyrus K. Moore, 
Ira Moore, 
James Moore, 
James Otis Moore, 
John Moore, 
Ira More, 

Albert A. Moulton, 
Alvah Moulton, 
Alvah O. Moulton, 
David O. Moulton, 



* A few who are not native, but who came into the town with their parents when small children, some 
of them being infants, and were educated there as teachers, are included in the list. They are indicated 
by a star (*) annexed to their names. An effort has been made to make the list correct, and in most cases, 
the names of the teachers belonging to the different families have been submitted to some member of 
each family for correction. Some of the native teachers have probably been omitted, especially of those 
who taught in the early years of the town, but all who could be found have been included. The maiden 
names of female teachers who have been married have been given, on the supposition that they would be 
better known by those names. The town has produced an average number of about five teachers annually 
since its organization. I am indebted to Dominicus Ricker, Joseph Parsons, Elisha S. Wadleigh, Luther 
Neal, Lorenzo Moulton, Silas Cartland, John W. Piper, Sherman E. Piper, Hugh B. Lougee, Ann Mars- 
ton and others, for the valuable assistance they have rendered me in preparing this list.— Horace Piper. 



424 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



Ira H. Bickford, 
Stephen E. Bickford, 
Abner Blaisdell, 
Cyrus Blaisdell, 
Daniel O. Blazo, 
Eben Blazo, 
Robert T. Blazo, 
Alpheus Boothby, 
Cyrus P. Brackett, 
John W. Brackett, 
James W. Bradbury, 
Samuel M. Bradbury, 
James A. Bradeen,* 
John M. Brown, 
Simon Brown, 
Simon Brown, 2d, 
Caleb Burbank, 
Eleazer Burbank, 
George D. Burbank. 
Liuwood E. Burbank, 
Luther C. Burbauk, 
Oscar Burbank, 
Samuel Burbank, 
William S. Burbank, 
Asa Burnham,* 
George Oliver Burnham, 
John Lorenzo Burnham, 
Aaron Buzzell, 
Alvah Buzzell, 
James M. Buzzell, 
Silas H. Cartland, 
Stephen Cartland, 
Mark Chapman, 
Ira C. Chase, 
William H. Chase, 
Horace R. Cheney, 
Edward J. Colcord, 
Richard L. Cook,* 
Edwin J. Cram, 
Fred. E. Cram, 
James O. Cram, 
John A. Cram, 



Albion Emer}^, 
Augustus M. Emery, 
Lorenzo W. Emery, 
Isaac N. Felch,* 
George H, Fenderson, 
Hubbard Fogg, 
Charles T. Fox, 
Frederick Fox, 
David Garland, 
Daniel S. Garland, 
Edmvmd Garland, 
Edmund Garland, 2d, 
John Garland, 
Jonathan Garland, 
Joseph Garland, 
Samuel Garland, 
Thomas Garland, 
Smith Gilman, 
Charles Hale, 
Levi Hannaford, 
Reuben Hannaford, 
Albert E. Haynes, 
Alpheus S. Hilton, 
Charles A. Hilton, 
B. Frank Kennard, 
John A. Kennard, 
William D. Knapp, 
John Knight, 
Albert R. Leavitt, 
Caleb B. Lord, 
Henry D. Lord, 
Joseph M. Lord, 
Richard Lord, 
Albert G. Lougee, 
Charles Lougee, 
Edgar W. Lougee, 
Gilman Lougee, 
Hugh B. Lougee, 
Taylor Lougee, 
Daniel S. Marston, 
JohnO. Marston, 
Samuel D. Marston, 



Frank P. Moulton, 
John F. Moulton, 
John L. Moulton, 
Joseph Moulton, 
Lorenzo Moulton, 
Silas Moulton, 
William E. Moulton, 
Simeon Mudgett, 
Edgar A. Neal, 
Enoch Wedgwood Neal, 
John Neal, 
John Herbert Neal, 
Luther l^eal, 
John T. Paine, 
jS^icholas E. Paine, 
Franklin Palmer, 
Alvah Parker, 
Asa Parks, 
Orlando T. Parks, 
Asa A. Parsons, 
Asa B. Parsons, 
Charles G. Parsons, 
Enoch P. Parsons, 2d, 
George W. Parsons, 
John U. Parsons, 
Joseph Parsons, 
Joseph Addison Parsons, 
Noah B. Parsons, 
Taylor L. Parsons, 
Thomas Parsons, 
Weare D. Parsons, 
Andrew Pease, 
Burleigh Pease, 
Frank H. Pease, 
Nathaniel B. Pease, 
Zebulon Pease, 
James Perry, 
Horace Piper, 
Horace M. Piper, 
Irving Piper, 
John W. Piper, 
Jonathan Pijper, 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



425 



John W. Cram, 
George P. Davis, 
Jeremiah W. Dearborn, 
Josepli Dearborn, 
Isaiah F. Pray,* 
Joseph Pray, 
Samuel Pray, 
Charles A. Rand, 
James Rand, 
John H, Rand , 
Tristram Redman, 
Frank J. Remick, 
Frederick E. Remick, 
Dominicus Ricker, 
Joseph Ricker, 
Samuel Leighton Ricker, 
William Ricker, 
Emery S. Ridlon, 
Brackett R. Rogers, 
Charles F. Sanborn, 
Edwin L. Sanborn, 
John H. Sanborn, 
Moses M. Smart, 
Sewell Smart, 
Austin R. Smith, 



James O. Mclntire, 
Malcolm Mclntire, 
Rufus Mclntire, 
David L. Merrill, 
Samuel M. Smith, 
Harry L. Staples,* 
Lorenzo De M. Sweat, 
Moses E. Sweat, 
Jesse Sweat, 
William W. Sweat, 
John Tarbox, 
Samuel Tarbox, 
George B. Thompson, 
Horace P. Thompson, 
William R. Thompson, 
Benjamin L. Tibbetts, 
Harvey M. Towle, 
S. K. Towle, 
Melville C. Towle, 
J. Woodman Trueworthy 
Amos Tuck, 
John Tuck, 
Jonathan Tuck, 
Clark E. Yarney, 
Caleb B. Wadleigh, 



Lorenzo D. Piper, 
Sherman E. Piper, 
David B. Pratt, 
James E. Pratt, 
Elisha S. Wadleigh, 
Andrew J. Wedgwood, 
Benaikh H. Wedgwood, 
James M. Wedgwood, 
Joseph Wedgwood, 
Silas B. Wedgwood, 
William B. Wedgwood, 
William P. Wedgwood, 
Charles T. Wentworth, 
Ebenezer Wentworth, 
Giles M. Wentworth, 
Zenas P. Wentworth, 
Albert Whitten, 
Simon J. Whitten, 
Joseph Wiggin, 
, Samuel Wiggin, 
David Wilson, 
Moses Wilson, 
W. Scott Young, 



Maria B. Allen, 
Caroline Bailey, 
Meribah D. Bailey, 
Xancy Bailey, 
Martha Banks, 
Ellen S. Bennett, 
Marcia Bennett, 
Mary A. Bennett, 
Alsie E. Benson, 
Ella A. Benson, 
Emily E. Benson, 
Georgia A. Benson, 
Lucinda B. Benson, 
Mattie O. Benson, 
Ruth E. Benson, 



FEMALE TEACHERS. 

Elizabeth XJ. Emerson, 
Ida J. Emery, 
Sarah P. Felch, 
Susan Felch,* 
Eliza J. Felch,* 
Hannah R. Felch,* 
Lydia C. Felch, 
Mary E. Fenderson, 
Dorothy Fernald, 
Judith Fernald, 
Lydia Foss, 
Mary Gammon, 
Abigail Garland, 
Clarissa Garland, 
Sarah Garland, 



Nettie Moulton, 
Salome K. Moulton, 
Susan E. Moulton, 
Dorothy D. Mudgett, 
Emma Mudgett, 
Harriet Mudgett, 
Sarah Mudgett, 
Clarinda Elizabeth Neal, 
Etta C. Neal, 
Florence C. Neal, 
Isadore E. Parker, 
Diantha P. Parks, 
Mary A. Parks, 
Betsey A. Parsons, 
Mary Parsons, 



428 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

1796-1806, Joseph Parsons. 1859-61, John T. Wedgwood. 

1807-14, James Bradbury. 1862-63, Samuel Merrill. 

1815-16, John Buzzell. 1861-66, John Bennett. 

1817-24, Andrew Pease. 1867-70, Otis B. Churchill. 

1825-27, Rufus Mclntire. 1871-72, John Bennett. 

182S, Tristram Redman. 1873-75, Luther Neal. 

1829-31, Tobias Ricker. 1876-79, George Moulton. 
1832-34, Noah Tebbetts. ' 1880-81, H. Lorin Merrill. 

1835, Asa Dalton. 1882-85, George F. Chapman. 

1836-40, Tobias Ricker. 1886-87, Frank E. Eastman. 

Record of action taken by the citizens of Parsonsfield relative to the separa- 
tion of the District of Maine from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and 
list of names of Delegates chosen, and also Representatives elected till the 
present. 

The first action taken by the newly incorporated town relative to a 
separate state of the district of Maine was April 23, 1792, when Jona- 
athan Kinsman was chosen to " represent the town of Parsonsfield in 
a Convention to be holden in the North Meeting-House in Sanford on 
the first Tuesday of May " of same year. There were 49 votes cast on 
the question, 24 for separation and 25 against. It was also in the war- 
rant for that town-meeting " to see if the town would choose a Repre- 
sentative to the General Court." This was the first time this question 
came up for action, and they " voted not to send." 

Again, November 25, 1793, another meeting was called for the pur- 
pose of choosing " Delegates to meet in the Court House in Portland 
to consider the expediency of separation." " Voted not to send Dele- 
gates until more fully informed " of the advisability or propriety of 
separation. 

In 1795 the question of separation was again before the town, and 
their action was nearly unanimous in favor, the vote being 48 for and 
1 against separation. 

No action in regard to sending a Representative to General Court 
was taken until April 16, 1796, when it was voted " not to send." The 
same vote was again passed in 1797, but at this time they were unani- 
mous for separation, the vote being 60 in favor. The question of send- 
ing a Representative to the General Court did not again arise till May, 
1799, when they again voted " not to send." The same vote was passed 
on this question each year until 1806, when David Mars ton was chosen 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 429 

Representative, having 77 votes, Joseph Parsons 17. In 1807 he was 
again chosen, having 101 votes. In 1808 there were 74 votes for send- 
ing a Representative, to 35 against. David Marston was again chosen 
having 55 votes, James Bradbury 7, Noah Weeks 1. He was elected 
also in 1809, having 85 votes, James Bradbury 67, Thomas Thompson 5. 
In 1810 the town voted to send two Representatives : first Representa- 
tive, James Bradbury 101, William Blazo 45 ; second Representative, 
Simon Marston 91, William Blazo 21, Noah Weeks 5. In 1811 they voted 
to send one Representative. " James Bradbury had 80, scattering 18." 
May 4, 1812, they chose two Representatives. The record is, "Whole 
number for Representatives were 184, necessary for choice 95. James 
Bradbury had 107 and was chosen. Samuel Garland had 52 David 
Marston 10 Simon Marston 2 Noah Weeks 2 S Cushman 1." " The 
whole number of votes for a second was 143, necessary to make a 
choice 72. Simon Marston had 98 and was chosen." 

From this time the war seems to have taken the attention, and the 
town was not called upon to make choice of Representatives till 1815, 
when their zeal in this direction was so much abated that they voted 
" not to send." In 1816 there was much controversy upon the subject, 
and the vote was so close that " a poll was called " resulting in a vote 
" not to send." Another town-meeting was called for the same purpose, 
and the vote was 73 in favor to 93 against sending. 

In August, 1816, a town-meeting was called to consider the expedi- 
ency of a separation from Massachusetts, and it appears that a change 
had come over their spirits, for the vote, instead of being unanimous 
in favor, was "105 in favor to 113 against separation." At the same 
meeting they chose a delegate to represent them in a "convention to 
be held at Brunswick at the meeting-house near the College in Said 
District of Maine for the purpose of separating the District of Maine" 
&c. The vote was, first ballot, Samuel Garland 101, Elder John Buz- 
zell 101. A second vote was taken as follows : for Samuel Garland 
101, Elder John Buzzell 110. No action relative to sending a Repre- 
resentative was taken till 1818, when they " voted not to send." In 
1819, the question of separation again came up, and the vote stood 61 
in favor to 92 against. Two delegates were chosen to meet in con- 
vention in Portland, viz.: David Marston and Abner Kezar. Then, 



430 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



April 3, 1820, the town was called "to choose a Repvesentative to the 
First Legislature of Maine to convene at Portland on the last Monday 
of May." Samuel Garland had 8, David Marston 132, John Buzzell 
156. Rev. John Buzzell declined this honor, and a second town-meet- 
ing was called on the 20th of the same month for the same purpose^ 
and the vote was, Rufus Mclntire 107, David Marston 98, Abner Kezar 
4. The time of holding the sessions of the Legislature was changed 
from May to January, and in August, 1821, the town chose a Represen- 
tative by the following vote: "Samuel Fox 101, and declared elected; 
Noah Weeks 80 votes, John Buzzell 14, John Moore 5." 1822, the 
vote was, " Samuel Fox 110, and chosen Representative ; Noah Weeks 
28, Sam'l Garland 25, Sam'l Knapp 11, Moses Sweat 2." 1823, " Dr. 
Moses Sweat chosen by 131 to Simon J. Whitten 19, Sam'l Fox 27, 
Noah Weeks 38, Jonathan Piper 22." 1824, " Dr. Moses Sweat 211, 
Noah Weeks 12, Jonathan Piper 4, Simon J. Whitten 2." 1825, "Noah 
Weeks was elected on second ballot." Necessary for a choice 99 ; Noah 
Weeks had 103, Jonathan Piper 58, Abner Kezar 32, Samuel Fox 3. 



1826. 



1827. 



Noah Weeks chosen 


on second 


ballot. 




Noah Weeks, 


137 


Abner Kezar, 


83 


Scattering, 


15 


The contest was sharp 


, and four 


ballots were taken 


before a 


choice was made. The first bal- 


lot was 




Jonathan Piper, 


85 


Abner Kezar, 


71 


Noah Weeks, 


86 


Tobias Kicker, 


36 


John Bailey, 


32 


Second ballot, 




Jonathan Piper, 


84 


Abner Kezar, 


80 


Noah Weeks, 


40 


Tobias Kicker, 


24 


John Bailey, 


7 


Rufus Mclntire, 


1 



1836. 



1837. 



1838. 



1839. 



1840. 



1841. 



Gilman L. Bennett, 150 

Harvey M. Towle, 13 

James W. Weeks, 2 

Harvey M. Towle, 163 

Gilman L. Bennett, 148 

Harvey M. Towle, 232 

Gilman L. Bennett, 23 

Gilman Bennett, 7 

G. L. Bennett, 3 

Jesse Wedgwood, 1 

Gilman L. Bennett, 326 

Jonathan Piper, 123 

John Brackett, 3d, 26 

Harvey M. Towle, 2 

Gilman L. Bennett, 331 

Joseph Moulton, 6 

Jonathan Tuck, 293 

Jonathan Piper, 109 

John Brackett, 2d, 37 

Jonathan Tuck, 365 
and was elected. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



431 



1828. 



1829. 



1830. 



1831. 



1832. 



1833. 



1834. 



Third ballot, 




1842. 


John Mudgett, 


226 


Abuer Kezar, 


85 




Jonathan Piper, 


45 


Jonathan Piper, 


70 




Jesse Wedgwood, 


45 


Noah Weeks, 


41 




James W. Weeks, 


1 


Tobias Eicker, 


2 




James Brackett, 2d, 


1 


Fourth ballot. 




1843. 


John Mudgett, 


231 


Abner Kezar, 


80 




George Hilton, 


36 


Jonathan Piper, 


40 


1844. 


No choice the first two ballots 


Noah Weeks, 


16 




The third ballot was 




Tobias Ricker, 


1 




Alvah Doe, 


145 


Abner Kezar, 


200 




John P. Bennett, 


106 


Noah Weeks, 


59 




John Pease, 


6 


Jonathan Piper, 


11 




John Kezar, 


2 


John Bailey, 


5 




Henry Thompson, 


1 


Eufus Mclntire, 


2 . 


1845. 


Alvah Doe, 


183 


Mark Chapman, 


1 




John P. Bennett, 


62 


Abner Kezar, 


143 




John Garland, 


3 


John Bailey, 


102 




Horace Piper, 


1 


Noah Weeks, 


20 




Henry S. Thompson, 


1 


Daniel Waterhouse, 


6 


1846. 


John P. Bennett, 


170 


John Bailey, 


237 




James Brackett, 


90 


Jonathan Piper, 


65 




John Kezar, 


18 


Abner Kezar, 


25 


1847. 


John P. Bennett, 


153 


Noah Weeks, 


24 


1848. 


Jacob Marston, 


214 


John Bailey, 


200 




Harvey M. Towle, 


94 


Tristram Redman, 


104 




Robert T. Blazo, 


6 


Jonathan Piper, 


2 




John Burnham, 


1 


Second ballot, 






John Kezar, 


1 


James W. Weeks, 


178 


1849. 


Jacob Marston, 


194 


Noah Tebbetts, 


124 




Harvey M. Towle, 


23 


Jonathan Piper, 


3 




John Kezar, 


20 


John Bailey, 


2 


1850. 


John Kezar, 


179 


Tristram Redman, 


1 




Harvey M. Towle, 


68 


James W. Weeks, 


199 


1851. 


John Kezar elected. 




Noah Tebbetts, 


10 


1852. 


John Kezar, 


239 


Benjamin Weeks, 


1 




John Garland, 


128 


There were three ballots before 




Towns classed after this date. 


a choice was made. 




1854. 


John B. Sweat. 




First ballot, 




1855. 


John B. Sweat. 




James W. Weeks, 


159 


1857. 


Luther Sanborn. 




Noah Tebbetts, 


107 


1858. 


Luther Sanborn. 




John Pease, 


70 


1861. 


J. M. Ames. 





432 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



1835. 



James Thomas, 


28 


1862. 


Chase Boothby. 


Jesse "Wedgwood, jr., 


7 


1865. 


Ivory Fenderson. 


Second ballot. 




1866. 


Ivory Fenderson. 


James W. Weeks, 


176 


1869. 


H. G. 0. Smith. 


I^oah Tebbets, 


172 


1870. 


H. G. 0. Smith. 


John Pease, 


4 


1871. 


John Bennett. 


James Thomas, 


3 


1872. 


John Bennett. 


Jesse Wedgwood, jr.. 


1 


1875. 


Joseph F. Dearborn 


Third ballot, 




1876. 


Charles F. Sanborn. 


James W. Weeks, 


174 


1879. 


Loring T. Staples. 


Noah Tebbets, 


150 


1880. 


Loring T. Staples. 


Jesse Wedgwood, 


2 


1881. 


Loring T. Staples. 


John Pease, 


1 


1784. 


Dominicus Bicker. 


Eufus Mclntire, 


155 


1885. 


Dominicus Bicker. 



SENATORS. 

Since the organization of the state government in 1820, Parsonsfield 
has been represented in the Senate as follows : 
1827-28, Moses Sweat, m.d. 1863-65, Luther Sanborn. 

1841^2, Gilman L. Bennett, M.D. 1880, J. W. Dearborn, m.d. 

1856-57, John Kezar. 1881-82, Charles F. Sanborn. 

1863, Alvah Doe. 

COUNTY TREASURER. 

Only two of its citizens have had the office of County Treasurer, viz. : 
1852-54, Gilman L. Bennett, 3I.D. 1856-59, John Brackett, 2d. 

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. 

As County Commissioner, three of the townsmen have served, viz. : 
1838, Jonathan Piper. 1845-49, Moses Sweat. 

1842-46, John Bailey. 

LIBRARIES. 

There was a public library kept at Middle Road Village which, 
judging from the style of printing, was gathered early in the century. 
About 1830, it comprised some 300 volumes of valuable historical, 
biographical and poetical works. After the death or removal of the 
old proprietors, the books were scattered and lost. The few that 
remained in Dr. Bradbury's old office, late as 1850, showed marks of 
having been repeatedly read. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 433 

A library of miscellaneous books was collected soon after the Acad- 
emy was opened. Most of them, with much of apparatus, were lost 
when the old seminary was burned. There are now about 200 volumes 
on hand, and efforts are being made to add valuable publications. 

There is a social library at Maplewood, containing some 300 vol- 
umes. One at Middle Road, numbering 338 books, of which Hon. 
James W. Bradbury, of Augusta, recently contributed 102 volumes. 
Another at North Parsonsfield, recently started. 

LEAD AND SILVER MINE. 

Thomas C. Randall, for many years a resident of Kezar Falls village, 
furnishes the following : 

In 1829, a lead and silver mine was found about half a mile south of 
this village by Thomas Randall, Esq., the Eaton poet, on land then 
owned by David Smith and Thomas Edgecomb, jr. Mr. Randall and 
his son Gideon M. were part owners. A party of Fryeburg gentlemen 
worked the mine a few years. In 1847, Ira Colby, Esq., of Eaton, and 
others, bought it for -$500. They sunk a shaft down fifty feet, then 
drifted off forty-five feet at right angles, following a vein of rich ore 
that was represented as paying fairly well. It is not known why they 
ceased operations. The county records will probably show that the 
heirs or assigns of Ira Colby are the present owners of the claim. Its 
value can be determined only by new operations with modern ma- 
chinery. 

MANUFACTORIES. 

Parsonsfield has not been a manufacturing town. In early days, 
most of the clothing worn, as well as implements used, were made in 
the family by hand. There were a few tanneries and shoe shops, also 
two or three mills for carding wool and dressing cloth. 

About 1811, Samuel Lord built a small factory, in which he manu- 
factured cloth from wool, using machinery driven by water. To 
utilize flax seed, he also made linseed oil, continuing in both branches 
of business fifteen or twenty years. 

In 1849, Mr. Lord brought to town the first case of sale clothing 
ever made in the vicinity. An aged lady, not comprehending this new 
28 



434 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

innovation, remarked that "John's wife and girls have been making 
breeches for Sam Lord all summer. He can't wear half of them out if 
he lives to the age of Methuselah." 

A few years after, Nathaniel Pendexter and others went into the 
business largely at East Parsonsfield. 

It is estimated that the women of this town annually earn from five 
to eight thousand dollars with machine and needle. 

About 1854, the making of ladies shoes by hand, for parties in Lynn 
and Haverhill, was introduced, but the use of sewing machines spoiled 
the business. 

There is a woolen factory at Kezar Falls, which is noticed elsewhere. 

INDIANS. 

Tradition and history agree that after the surrender of Canada, 
Indian avengers of blood followed the American soldiers to their homes. 
H. G. O. Smith furnishes the following : 

The maiden name of my grandmother Smith was Kichards. She was born on 
the frontier west of Dover, N. H., 1758. As she was showing a string of horny 
points taken from deer, I asked her for a history of that treasured relic. She 
said: 

"My father had several times assisted in repelling attacks and recovering 
prisoners. He was lieutenant in the army under General Amherst. After the 
conquest of Canada he returned home. As he opened the door one morning the 
next June, an Indian fired at him and fled. Snatching his gun, he gave chase 
and after a race of several hours shot him. The savage had ornaments like 
these around wrists and ankles. Cutting off the bracelets, my father reached a 
settlement, only to die three weeks later. Common report said he came from 
Canada with Chocorua." 

CHANGES. 

From the census the fact will appear that there are not so many 
inhabitants in the town as formerly. There are less acres under culti- 
vation, but the yield is quite as great as in former times. Many 
acres once cleared are now covered again with growth of forest trees. 
There is a loss in numbers of live stock which is more than made up in 
increased value. The oxen, cows and horses of the town never were 
so A'"aluable as today. 

There are but few sheep, where there were once many. Far more 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 435 

corn and grain are fed to animals than formerly, and much more is 
consumed than is produced. In former times the production of corn 
was in excess of the consumption. This change is now offset by the 
apple crop, which in former times was valueless. In 1886, from 8,000 
to 10,000 barrels of Baldwin apples were sold by the farmers of our 
town. 

Where prior to the war our citizens were borrowers of money, they 
are now lenders, very many having deposits in savings banks and other 
interest paying corporations, as well as stock in business enterprises, 
which go to prove the fact that reduction of population and less num- 
bers of cattle, horses, and sheep, are not evidences of the financial 
condition of the town. 

THE MILITIA, 

■ The following notice is a copy from the records of the town clerk : 

York ss. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

Agreeable to directions from Major General Goodwin to us; we hereby notify 
and warn the male inhabitants of the town of Parsonsfield, from sixteen to sixty 
years of age, to assemble and meet at the house of .Josiah Colcord, Thursday the 
fifth day of jSTovember next for the following purposes — viz. Firstly, to choose a 
Moderator to govern said meeting. Secondly, to choose a Captain, Lieutenant 

& Ensign. 

JONATHAN KINSMAN } Selectmen 
DAVID HOBBS | of Parsonsfield 

Dated Oct 25, 1789. 

Met and chose Joseph Parsons Captain, James Morrison first Lieutenant, Sam- 
uel Lougee second, Job Colcord Ensign. 

Under date of Dec. 29, 1789, the selectmen say : 

"Whereas there has been much uneasiness and disturbance in the election of 
military officers; to promote peace we have divided the town into two districts, 
beginning at the eastern boundary and following the sixth range till it strikes 
the Middle Road, thence by that road to Effingham. 

At the second meeting for the southern district, Thomas Parsons, 
Esq., was chosen captain, James Marston lieutenant, and Joseph Pease 
ensign. The north district chose Jonathan Kinsman captain, Samuel 
Lougee lieutenant, and David Hobbs ensign. In later years both dis- 
tricts were sub-divided, also a company of light infantry organized. 
The regimental musters were either at North or South Road. It met 



43^ HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

once in Newfield, and once in Cornish. Trainings were abolished in 
1842 or 1843. 

The above is all the information we can glean directly from the 
town records, but as our forefathers were particular to give military- 
men their proper titles, we get the names and approximate date of 
service of captains and officers of higher grade. Promotions were, with 
very few exceptions, from ensigns up, step by step. It is not claimed 
that the list here given is perfect. 

Generals : — James Thomas, about 1829. 

Colonels : — Jonathan Kinsman, about 1794 , Joseph Parsons, 1811 ; 
Stephen Bickford, 1815 ; Bartlett Doe, 1825 ; David L. Hobbs, 1829 ; 
Simon J. Whitten, 1831 ; John Goddard, 1838. 

Majors : — Paul Burnhara, 1800 ; Zebulon Pease, 1811 ; John Moore, 
1815 ; Thomas Churchill, 1830 ; James W. Weeks, 1836 ; Samuel Mer- 
rill, 1842. 

Captains : — Thomas Parsons, 1789 ; James Morrison, 1794 ; David 
Hobbs, 1794; Harvey Moore, 1795; James Marston, 1798; Joseph 
Granville, 1800 ; Asa Pease, 1802 ; George Newbegin, 1808 ; Abner 
Kezar, 1810; John Lougee, 1812 ; John Pease, 1816 ; Jacob Dearborn, 
1816; David Marston, 1817; Samuel Tuck, 1819; Joseph Merrill; 
William Blazo, 1823 ; and later, Joseph Dearborn, John Kezar, Gideon 
Bickford, Joseph S. Dearborn, Caleb Burbank, Jacob Dearborn, Har- 
vey Moore, Harvey M. Towle, Jesse Wedgwood, Luther Sanborn, 
Luther Emerson, Alvah Doe, Jacob Marston, Jonathan Tuck. 







c/^ ^^2y . ^^^' 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 437 

POETS OF PARSONSFIELD. 

This town, nestled away in the northwest corner of the County of 
York, its western boundary being the border of the sister state of New 
Hampshire, its rugged rock-ribbed hills, covered with massive growth 
of forest trees, such as its rough and hardy soil has ever produced, has 
always attracted within its borders men of force and determined will 
and perseverance. 

Such has been the fact since the time its first settlers, the Moore 
brothers, from Scarborough, settled on the south-eastern border, and 
the Doe brothers, from Governor's Farm in Wolfboro, N. H., in pursuit 
of a home in the wilds, crossed " Province Lake " in a " dugout," in 1775, 
and ascended the ridge of land on its western border, just as the setting 
sun threw slantwise thereon its last rays, there camping at night and 
locating the home for themselves and the generations to follow them. 

Our early ancestors found life here to be " real ' ' — to be " earnest." 
In its toils, privations and hardships, little of poetry, and very little 
indeed to develop a poetic spirit. Yet she has given to the world, to 
every calling, profession and trade, men and women of wisdom, of 
genius and of worth. While none have won fame in this particular 
field, several merit honorable mention. 

The sweetest poet Maine has ever boasted, David Barker, Esq., 
though not her son, is indirectly claimed in some measure by us, from 
the fact that that " Roman Mother," from and through whom he largely 
obtained his genius, and to whom so much of his mentality and success 
were due, was one of Parsonsfield's fair daughters, Sarah Pease. The 
glittering gems which have fallen from his pen, of patriotism, of spark- 
ling wit, of sentimentality, of moral precept, and of religious faith and 
hope and trust, will live. 

Of those of the native born, who have essayed to write in verse, it is 
safe to say that the late Orlando T. Parks has, thus far, had no 
superior. He possessed a mind of rare versatility, a ready comprehen- 
sion of human nature, brilliant as a wit and genius. He was the son 
of Eliphalet and Abigail (Parsons) Parks, and was born in Parsons- 
field, June 7, 1832. His education was mostly in the common schools. 

Most of his active life was passed in the town of his nativity, where 
he taught school, labored at his trade, instructed in vocal music, etc. 



438 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



He was absent a few years in Dexter, Me., and in Boston, Mass. He 
was twice married, first to Miss Mary P. Burbank, of Acton, who died 
Jan. 15, 1867. His second wife was Miss Susan G. Lougee, of Parsons- 
field, who survives him. He died Dec. 11, 1879, aged forty-seven years. 
Most of his poetic effusions, which found way into print, were writ- 
ten during the time he was a citizen of Dexter, Me., one of which will 
be noticed further on. His ready wit finds illustration in a little note 
he wrote me and forwarded by the hand of a friend. He had been to 
my office a few days prior, during his last illness, and obtained some 
medicine, saying he would call again when that supply was exhausted. 
But growing worse rather than improving, and having opportunity to 
send me word, he seized a pencil and slip of paper, and dashed off the 
following : 

"Dr. J. D., ray bottle is M. T. 

And ought, I suppose, to be filled, 
Since once I have dared your skill and yet's spared 

My life, while others are killed, 
Perhaps 'twill be best to make further test 

Of your powders, your pills, or your potions, 
So please call to-day (if coming this way), 
While I remain Yours with devotion, 

O. T. P." 

Among his efforts which found way into print are the " Hotel Clerk," 
" Barefoot Dick," " Thoughts suggested on reading lines entitled ' A 
Sunset Fancy,' " " One cannot always tell," " Uncle Ben's Husking," 
"A good time coming," etc., etc. They all possess merit, and show 
genius outside of the mere poesy. 

A pathetic poem, relative to his old home, the scenes of childhood, 
and to his parents who had departed, has attracted my attention. It 
bears the simple title of " Lines," with no signature at the close, only 
the words " No matter." It is before me in his handwriting, and I 
'^note a few of the first and last lines : 

"Old home of my childhood! Fond scenes of the past! 
How oft I am with you! What shadows ye cast 
Of objects familiar, and faces yet dear! 
Although ye are distant, ye ever seem near; 
E'en now in my fancy sweet faces I see, 
I listen to voices all music to me. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 439 

Revisit each spot in life's morning I knew, 
Pray, am I in dreamland? If so, oh! how true! 

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 

But the spot than all others more sacred to me, 
The one where, if prudent, I daily would be. 
Is that 'neath the willows which mournfully wave 
O'er the dust of my parents. That spot is their grave. 
Aye, always, when backward my vision extends 
(Though dear the old homestead, and dearer old friends). 
My heart ever clings to the spot where they lie, 
'Tls here I'd be buried at last when I die." 

This little poem was written when absent from the home of his 
nativity, but the wish expressed in the last lines was realized, for we 
tenderly laid his " casket " " 'neath the willows," close by the dust of 
the loved ones. 

No doubt, that which has attracted most attention, was the poem 
which appeared in the "Bangor Whig" of Sept., 1874, entitled, "Cor- 
nele's Tribute to the Memory of his Lamented Friend, the late David 
Barker, Esq." In order that its due value and merit may appear, I 
copy from the pen of David Barker, his poem, entitled, " Cornele " * 
which was written a short time previous to Mr. Barker's death. 

I am sick and have left all my papers and laws, 
And am stopping awhile at this tavern of Shaw's; 
And I take what a prince or a monarch might get — • 
Just the best of a meal, and an ars'nic pellet — 
And this fact should come in: I was here, you should know, 
When they opened this house, thirty-nine years ago. 
From the crowd that was here in that year, thirty-five, 
Not a soul do I find 'round this mansion alive. 
Not a man — not a one do I find here about, 
But the porter, " Cornele," and a judge with the gout. 
Famed " Cornele" with his brush for the boot or the blouse, 
All the world has regarded a part of the house. 
What a load he has lugged the world's baggage among! 
■ For the garrulous old and the jubilant young; 
And he boasts with a true Celtic pride of the touch 
He has put on the boots of a Webster, and such. 
And today, 'mid his books, right in earnest, not sport, 
I have talked on one point, with a Judge of our court — 
And he says that in spite of old statutes and creedfe 

* Cornelius Crowley, for thirty-nine years head porter at the Bapgor House, and who died in 1875. 



440 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

This " Cornele " should now pass by all subsequent deeds. 
When his last load is borne and the famed porter dies, 
I would carve on the slab at the spot where he lies : 
" Here he sleeps, pardoned out from the last of his sin, 
Ever true to the faith of his priest and his kin." 
Had he faults? — let the world gossip round as it can — 
He has blacked, and has brushed, and has lugged like a man. 
How the dream chills my heart, how the thought makes me feel, 
That a breath may blow out the warm lamp of " Cornele," 
Leaving two, only two from that big ancient crowd, 
And those two peering round for the turf and the shroud. 
One, a pale, haggard bard — tottering out on his cane — 
And the other, the Judge on his hammock of pain. 
Immediately upon his death, Mr. Parks, a great admirer of the poetry 
of Mr. Barker, wrote and published the following: 

CORNELE'S TRIBUTE. 
To the memory of his Lamented Friend, the late David Barker, Esq. 

BY O. T. p. 

But a few weeks ago 'twas that Maine's sweetest bard 
In lines deep with feeling portrayed his regard 
For me — Old Cornele — Shaw's porter and black, 
Not dreaming of course that I'd e'er pay him back, 
Since he knew that, as Knight of the Brush and the Broom 
If I'd talent, I surely could never find room 
'Mid my " shining and dusting and lugging " each day 
Such tribute except with these acts to repay. 
And I, when I read them, had never a thought 
Of penning their author in answer e'en aught; 
Nay; as he there hinted — so I could but feel 
That David might stand by the grave of Cornele; 
But Death's no respecter of persons nor trades. 
The Poet and Boot-black alike share his raids; 
So while I am left here to wait and to toil 
He's gone on before me, has shuffled life's coil: 
Has passed through the dark " Covered Bridge " which he built 
When in life, with his pen dipped in immortal gilt. 
As I pondered those lines, how my heart beat with pride 
To think that e'en one of the thousands I've tried 
To please with my labors, adown those long years, 
Should write for my comfort such words of good cheer; 
Should choose while he ranked 'mong the gifted of earth, 




^.,Jt,,(a«"'" 



^^c^ J^ ^^^ ^^-^ 

WILLIAM. H. WIGGIN. Esp. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 44 1 

To notice Coruele, but his servant by birth. 

Now the " Squire " was right — we both took a part 

In op'ning this house; were here at its start; 

He liv'ning the scene with his wit and his jokes, 

I toting the baggage and dusting the coats. 

I remember, as though but a week it had been, 

How the words that he spake, and the theme from his pen 

Brought comments of praise from the old and the young, 

E'en placing him then with distinction among 

The noblest of poets to humanity known. 

Aye, proud were the people that Maine was his home, 

And often since then as each Register shows 

Did he frequent our tavern; but time ne'er'll disclose 

The joy I experienced whenever he came — 

Indeed 'twas sweet music, the sound of his name. 

But he's paid his last visit, the Poet and Friend, 

His life though so precious has come to its end. 

He sleeps in the church yard, beneath the green sod, 

The casket — though David still lives with his God. 

No more shall I wisp my wee broom o'er his suits, 

No more hand his baggage; no more shine his boots; 

No more clasp with pleasure his oft-proffered hand 

Till I too have entered the bright Summer-Land, 

Where I know I shall share e'en the best of his love 

'Mid the throng of bright angels, that attend him above. 

Eliphalet Parks, the father of O. T. Parks, was an easy writer and 
indulged in writing poetry of some merit, but none of it, as far as I 
know, appeared in print. 

In this connection it is proper to speak of William H. Wiggin, Esq., 
notice of whom is given by Mr. Mclntire in his paper on " Lawyers of 
Parsonsfield," page 132. After graduating at the Law School at Ball- 
ston Spa, N. Y., he returned to Sanford and opened an office, where he 
remained for a time. He then went West, and the practice of law 
either not being congenial or lucrative, he abandoned it and engaged in 
contracting for tin roofing and iron cornice, being located at Palmyra, 
Mo., but traveling very extensively through the Western and Southern 
States. During the early years of the war he went to St. Louis and 
was selected one of the Mounted Guard for General Fremont, and 
accompanied him in his unfortunate expedition to Springfield, Mo. 
During his service he won the esteem pf his officers and associates. 



442 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

In the early part of 1871, he married Miss Lucy A. Mitchell, of St. 
Louis, a graduate of the St. Louis Normal School, and a lady of ability, 
who has won distinction in literarj' circles, and is noted as a teacher 
and a kind hearted philanthropist, having founded a free night school 
for working girls in St. Louis. This school she commenced with fifteen 
scholars, and doubled that number the first four weeks. In this city 
Mr. Wiggin made his home until his death, Nov. 30, 1879. He left 
one child, Ralph Mitchell Wiggin, born April 30, 1875. 

Mr. Wiggin was retiring and reserved, yet in conversation engaging 
and easy. A grace and ease characterized his writings, both of prose 
and poetry. He was a very sharp critic of the writings of others — 
Shakespeare, Byron, Tom Moore, Longfellow, and others passed in 
review under his pen. He read everything understandingly, and 
could give a reasonable reason for his likes and dislikes, his admiration 
and his censure. Every sentence which he reviewed, of prose or 
poetry, was closely analyzed ; every sham laid bare and every beauty 
brought forth. Of his poetry, we have but little, as most of it was 
written after he became a resident of the Western States. While at 
Palmyra, Mo., he wrote and delivered a poem before the Library Asso- 
ciation of that town, consisting of 950 lines, which was received with 
much applause and was regarded a perfect success. 

In politics he was a Whig, and later a Republican, early advocating 
the principle of universal suffrage. He scorned slavery, and detested 
ignorance. He asserted that by right every person should be free and 
educated, and every such person should assert the elective franchise. 
He had a wonderful intuitive knowledge of human nature, and formed 
very correct estimates of public men, as well as of those with whom he 
was by business relations brought in contact. The large family to 
which he belonged are all gone, he being the last but one. 

Mrs. Melissa (Towle) Shores, of Bridge water, Mass., who was pre- 
ceptress at North Parsonsfield Seminary, while under the care of Prof. 
George H. Ricker, a lady of culture and ability, and a native of our 
town, has written considerable for magazines and newspapers, under 
a fictitious name, both prose aud poetry. In 1850, a book was pub- 
lished in Manchester, N. H., entitled " Gems for j'ou, from New Hamp- 
shire Authors," in which one of her early poems appears. As a writer, 
she richly merits more than this passing notice. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 443 

Mrs. Lucy (Moulton) Perry, of Portland, also a native, has written 
poetry for some years which has appeared from time to time in news- 
papers and periodicals. The following poem was furnished by her to 
to be read at our centennial, entitled ^ 

A TRIBUTE TO OUK SOLDIERS. 

When o'er the hills, where erst sweet breezes sang, 

War's direful notes of preparation rang 

From broad Atlantic to Pacific's strand, 

And Death's grim angel hovered o'er the land; 

When burst hoarse thunders from the cannon's mouth, 

In grim defiance from the " sunny South; " 

And war's deep rolling echoes sounding forth, 

Aroused the legions of the " loyal North; " 

Our sons with willing heart and ready hand, 
Joined the defenders of their native land 
With fixed resolve the country should be free, 
Preserved forever — Union — Liberty. 
Brave sons of noble sires, whose iron will 
Won victory at Lexington and Bunker Hill, 
Who through long years of hardship and of pain, 
With faith and courage fought the right to gain. 

What know we of their sufferings and distress, 
Of toilsome march and bitter loneliness, 
Of wounds and weary hours in prison cell 
Nobly endured in silence — who can tell? 
Whether he falls as by a lightning's flash, 
In a swift onset, and the battles crash ; 
Or lingering years of weariness and pain, — 
Who dies for Freedom never dies in vain. 

In loyal hearts their memories never fade, 

In springtime laurel wreaths are o'er them laid; 

No winter's snow — nor change — nor time can mar 

The love which follows where our soldiers are. 

From realms where sentries guard the far out-post 

Of the Grand Army's fast increasing host. 

And sweetly sounding, as a vesper bell, 

Echoes the heavenly password — "All is well." 



444 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

A sister of hers, Mrs. Mary (Moulton) I [ill of Sandwich N. H., 
contributed the following for our centennial exercises. 

" ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO." 

One Hundred years sends greeting to " A Hundred years Ago," 
Across the shadowy lapse of time, our hearts with tender glow, 
Remember those who lived and loved " A Hundred years ago." 

From distant homes these fathers came to rear an altar here. 
To light anew their household fires, and work with will and cheer 
Amid eternal solitudes still other homes to rear. 

For only just behind them were cruel years of pain, 

Of deadly strife and bloodshed, as they sought their rights to gain, 

And cast off all the shackles of the Britton's lordly reign. , 

On many vales and hilltops their ancient homes were made. 

Their household fires gleamed warm and bright along the forests' shade. 

Upon these breezy hillsides their sleeping forms are laid. 

We trace these ancient ruins with fern and brier lined. 
Where rose the clan to daily toil, with voice of song entwined, 
The thistle nods its head, and voices whisper in the wind. 

And all adown the century, the little mounds we see 

Of those, the brave, the good, the true, who fought for you and me; 

And gave the greatest gift of all — their lives to make us free. 

We greet those sturdy heroes who walked these hills of yore, 
While thousands celebrate this day recall the names they bore, 
We greet with song and blessing their memories once more. 

And we with tender pathos remember these today. 

We talk of old time faces; of men and matrons gray. 

Whose span of life long since complete, passed up" the shining way." 

And we, their children's children have roamed in every land, 

Down where the southern cross gleams bright, on prairies broad and grand, 

And where the orient zephers blow, and Arctic's frozen strand — 

And all around on sea and land, great changes have been wrought, 
The old time creeds have softened down from what our fathers taught. 
And minds have grasped new wonders from out the realm of thought. 

And when the rolling years have told a century away. 
And we in silent blissful sleep are resting from the fray. 
May other thousands gather here, and celebrate this day. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 445 

We would speak favorably of another daughter of this town, Mrs. 
IsADORE (Parker) Merrill, whose verses have found their way quite 
frequently into print, but the poem selected by the "committee on pro- 
gramme" for the occasion, and published page 126, being from her pen, 
must suffice. 

Frank Herbert Pease, a graduate from Tufts College, and a native 
of this town, has written quite extensively in verse, and furnished the 
centennial hymn, which was sung to the tune of " Sessions.'' For one 
who has a special adaptation for the work, to write a poem on a subject 
as broad as a century's rise, and growth and changes, with the privilege 
of occupying as much space as he may choose, is not a difficult task ; 
but when limited to twenty or twenty four lines, it becomes a very dif- 
ferent affair indeed. The writing of hymns judging by the few pro- 
duced by our best poets, is not easy of accomplishment. Mr. Pease is 
a young man of ability, and if circumstances would allow him to 
devote his time and thought to the subject of poetry, he would, we 
doubt not, win distinction. 

Rev. E. J. Colcord, also a native of this town, now of Bellows Falls 
Vt., was class poet in college, and has written quite a number of poems 
of merit, one of which is published in the " Poets of New Hampshire" 
and he has written hymns which have been set to music by Prof. Emer- 
son, also a very fine Christmas Cantata, music by Emerson. He wrote 
a poem by request of the "committee on programme" for the centennial. 
It was very long, five hundred lines, and therefore not selected for 
publication. I would be pleased to quote from it, but no quotations, 
which space will allow, will do justice to the work, and I therefore 
prefer not to mar its symmetry by such an eifort. There are no doubt 
others who should receive favorable mention, but those alluded to, are 
among the most prominent. 



Since writing the above article on the " Poets of Parsonsfield " I find 
that I have failed to speak of one (and it may be several,) who 
deserves especial mention, and whose productions were always highly 
appreciated in literary circles. I refer to Rev. Joseph Ricker d. d., of 
Augusta Me. His life has been an extremely busy one, and his atten- 



44^ HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

tion has been called, and held in other channels, rendering him utterly 
unable to devote time and thought to writing verse for nearly forty- 
years past. The Faculty of Waterville College, now Colby University, 
requested him to furnish a poem for the commencement exercises when 
he graduated, and a few years later he delivered the annual commence- 
ment poem, by request of the literary societies of his Alma Mater. 

Most of his productions are lost, or at least, I am unable to obtain 
any of them save the following fragment which is a portion of the 
second poem above alluded to. 

It will however indicate, in some measure, his terse style of thought 
and expression, as well as the spirit of poesy. 

The moon's cold light upon a ruin streamed 

Where Satyrs might have danced or poets dreamed, 

Where fox and wolf might make their lair 

And howl in chorus to the midnight air. 

Along through echoing arch and spectral shade, 

To muse on human things, alone I strayed. 

The night winds murmured through the creviced walls 

Of tottering mansions and deserted halls. 

The grass-grown courts, the gray and mouldering piles, 

Their dim old portals and their solemn aisles, 

Were silent, — silent as the tomb. 

Lone Solitude I — how awful is her form 

When gliding o'er the heath or moaning in the storm, 

Or bending from the cliff at dawn of day 

To weave her toilet in the mountain spray! 

But would you know her soul-subduing power, 

Go thread the streets where hoary ruins tower. 

See here a temple, there a marble dome 

Where night birds flit and beasts of prey do roam; 

'Neath broken arches grope your lonely way. 

And in the vacant square prolong your stay; 

With wondering eye and palpitating heart. 

Survey the proudest works of ancient art, 

The crumbling buttress and the frescoed wall, 

The blackened tower just nodding to its fall, 

The ruined moat, the moss-clad colonnade, 

The gateway frowning in the murky shade, 

The oak and hawthorn o'er the threshhold sprung, 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 447 

The crazy casement from its hinges flung, 

The fern and bramble swaying in the breeze, 

And Night's lone spirit sighing through the trees I 

Bethink you of the men who reared these piles. 

Who breathed this air, and trod these dusky aisles ; 

Bethink you of the surging tide of life 

That filled these streets and lanes with busy strife 

Long time ago, in palmy days of yore, — 

Now still as death, now trod by men no more. 

Bethink you, while the wild flowers round you wave, 

You stand alone upon a city's gravel 

This do, and sure you cannot lack the mood 

To feel the weird-like power of Solitude. 

Onward I stole. Within its narrow cell 

My heart did beat more wild than words can tell, 

But not with fear. It ached to hear some sound 

Peal on the air ..... 

I had my wish. For lo, there burst upon the ear 

Such notes as seraphs stoop and joy to hear, 

A gush of song so sweet, so sad, so wild, 

So full of trembling passion, yet so mild. 

That while the trembling tear-drop dimmed the eye. 

The spirit smiled and fluttered for the sky. 

Whence came that tide of song? T'was in the air. 
The ground, the ruined waste, — t'was everywhere! 
From hall to hall from tower to tower, it rolled. 
On echo borne, by limits uncontrolled, 
Until that tide did seem a surging sea 
Of soft, delicious, bird-like melody. 

In the pale shadow of a roofless dome, 
Of pomp and splendor once the gorgeous home, 
I paused: without, dank weeds o'ergrew the path; 
Within, the thistle nodded on the hearth; 
Above, the tranquil stars lit up the sk}-; 
Beneath, the lizard's bright and timorous eye 
Did watch me. .... 

The music, plaintive as a funeral song. 

Did float in wildest strains the streets along. 

Whence came those notes? Who, at that midnight hour, 

Was chanting dirges in hall or bower ? 

Was it some lingering tenant of the place, 



448 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Some wretched remnant of his vanished race, 
Still loitering on the shore of mortal life, 
Forbid, as yet, to end the final strife? 
Seek not to know. Let this suffice thy turn; 
Enough the muse has said for thee to learn. 
With common-places make her not delay. 
Lest weakness seize her in her upward way. 

Say, would you study man, the noblest thing 
That is on earth, — creation's lordly king, 
— Man of the classic or barbarian cast ? — 
Go stir the ashes of the shadowy Past. 
In his brief history what extremes arise 
To wake inquiry and provoke surprise! 
Struggling alone amid life's boiling tide. 
Resolved upon the topmost wave to ride, 
Behold this deathless thing, this moving clod, 
This standing paradox, this insect god, 
Now mounting on the wave that beats the sky, 
Now plunging in the deep with bubbling cry, 
Filled with alternate hope and mute despair. 
On counter currents borne, and tossed with care, 
'Till wearied out, he gives the contest o'er. 
And while we wonder, sinks to rise no more. 

Oh mystery unsolved, of human life! 

From mewling infant to the dying strife, 

What towering hopes, what wrecks of splendid schemes, 

What restless watchings, and what fevered dreams, 

Crowd on the view in quick confused array. 

Like giddy actors in the mimic play. 

Unsolved? Nay, be that the atheist's word. 

His system, not more cynic than absurd. 

Shaking its palsied limbs, attempts in vain 

To hide its weakness under cold disdain; 

Asserts with bloodless lip and stony eye, 

By chance men live and move, by chance they die; 

By chance they hope and suffer, smile and weep, 

By chance they moulder in eternal sleep I 

And is it so, — is this the frightful doom 

Of the pale tenant of the voiceless tomb? 

Forbid it. Instinct, Reason, Faith, Desire, 

And all who inly feel the immortal fire, — 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 449 

And Thou who cani'st the higher life to give, 
Forbid the thought! for we that life would live. 

Blest hope I Beyond the purlieus of the grave, 
What fields of light in boundless prospect wave! 
There all the good, the pure, the meek of earth, 
Both ransomed men, and those of higher birth. 
Shall tune their harps to mysteries yet unknown. 
And chant their anthems round the eternal throne. 

Yes, let whole empires into night be hurled, 

Let sudden terror seize the quaking world, 

Let systems crumble and to atoms fly. 

Let unorbed planets shoot athwart the sky. 

Let universal nature gasp for breath, 

And sink convulsed in momentary death, — 

Still man, called forth from sea, and cave, and tomb, 

Shall rise in fresher youth and brighter bloom. 

Shall leave his bed of dust and long decay, 

And soar and sing in realms of endless day! 

Thomas Randall, who was among the early settlers of the town, and 
who later removed to Eaton N. H., was known as the " Eaton Poet." 

His effusions attracted much attention and possessed considerable 
merit. 

Asa Pease, brother of Maj. Zebulon was another of about equal 
distinction. There are, no doubt, others among the earlier sons and 
daughters, but unknown to the writer, who should receive mention. 
29 



450 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 



FAMILY RECORDS. 

Thomas C. Randall, has furnished data relative to several families at 
Kezar Falls, which came late into my hands, and of those not else- 
where mentioned I give the following. I am only furnished with names 
and ages, of those now living who constitute the families in 1886. 

T. C, Band ALL, aged 68 ; wife, Alice T.,age 64 ; Nettie S., 31 ; Geo. E. B., 10 ; 
Tommie E.,6. 

Sarah E., wife of David Pillsbury, (deceased) aged 71. Children, Abbie 
J., 40 ; Oliver D., 37 ; John D., 34 ; wife Etta N., 30 ; Jacob B., 31. 

Woodman French, aged 68 ; Eliza J., wife, 34 ; Alonzo 19 ; Amon B., 8. 

Geo. a. S. Fowler, 69 ; wife, Mary J., 60 ; Walter S., 32. 

Alonzo L. Richardson (farmer) aged 36 ; wife, PameliaD., 37 ; Lucius C, 6; 
Daniel N., 4; Olive D., 1. 

Moses F. Norton, aged 48 ; wife, Ruth A., 42 ; Elwin M., 16 ; Rebecca 
Towle,83. 

John A. Flanders, (machinist) aged 33; Alice J., 38; Lilla B., 11. 

Joshua Elliott, (mill-man) aged 41; Lizzie 38; Elwood E., 14; Mary R., 12; 
CootD., 5. 

Alpheus T. West, (farmer) aged 36; wife, Martha M., 30; Rusie R., 9; Anson 
T., 7; Ernest C, 6; Chester A., 3; Mary Bell, 1. 

Jeremiah Emery, aged 65; wife, Susan 65; Bertie, 12. 

Walter H. Newbeqin, (Tobaconist) aged 35; wife, Lizzie, 31. 

George Mason, aged 49; wife, Mary S., 45; Willie S., 21. 

Plummer E. Wilkinson, aged 29; wife, Clara, 21; Geo. L., 1. 

James N. Flanders, aged 25; wife, Ermina, 25. 

Allen Gamer, (see page .332) aged 43; wife, Mary D., 40; (children) Alice A., 
18; Eva M., 12; AVillie A., 9; Florence R., 7; (mother) Amelia 74. 

Albion P. Benton, (see page 256) aged 69; wife, Mary S., 45; Emma 33; 
Ella24;Peleg W.,23. 

Wm. G. Davis (merchant), aged 50; wife, Lucia, 36; Percy, 18; Mary B. Edg- 
comb, 17; Mary A. Edgcomb, widow, 61. 

Fulton B. Davis (barber), aged 26; wife, Clara E., 24; Arthur G., 4; Martha 
A., 2. 

James F. Osgood (farmer), aged 42; wife, Emily, 43; Nellie, 17; John F., 15; 
Charles, 13; Mary Ann, 11; Alfred, 9; Edgar M., 5. 

WiLLARD M. Whitten (farmer), aged 31; wife, Martha A., 33. 

James Pearl (farmer), aged 62; wife, Arceneth, 63; son, Melvin (at present 
one of the selectmen of Parsonsfield), 29. 

Hiram Evans (hotel keeper), aged 50; wife, Susan M., 66. 



» "^ 





IdlA 



."tjJ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 45 I 

Charles Pekdexter (farmer), aged 46; wife, Julia A., 40; Mary E., 22; 
Ana M., 18; Lizzie C, 14; Laura N., 8. 

EoswELL Sawyer (farmer), aged 25; wife, Lucie T., 21; Sadie, 3; Eugene, 2. 

Daniel Edgerly, aged 73; wife, Martha, 68; Daniel, Jr., 31. 

Thomas E. Fox (farmer), aged 75; wife, Martha, 49; Charles T., 19; Fred W., 
17; Herman J., 14. 

Jamie Sargent, aged 63; wife, Harriet, 63; Fred E., 25; Lizzie, 18; Jennie 
M., 15; Hattie F., 12. 

Wm. T. Sargent, aged 77; Lucy, 42; Evens N., 22; Frankie, 6. 

Samuel Norton, aged 46; wife, Jemima, 47; Samuel G., 14. 

WM. B. DAVIS, 

son of Ezra and Margaret (Sutton) Davis, was b. in Porter, Me., April 
18, 1837. He m. Miss Susan Ridlon, and remained a resident of Porter 
until 1863, when he removed to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in 
lumbering and general merchandising, for about twelve years. He 
then returned to Maine, and settled in Parsonsfield, near Kezar Falls, 
where he has since resided, engaged in agriculture. They have one 
son, Geo. E. Davis, aged about twenty -five years, in business in Port- 
land. Mr. Davis thinks for himself, and acts independently upon his 
judgments formed, is self-i"eliant, full of energy, persistent, honorable 
in his dealings, a good financier, and has served the town as one of its 
municipal officers, several years most acceptably. 

From the early records we obtain most that follows relative to 
families and early settlers, except the personal notices : — 

BRACKETT. 

There was a family by this name that settled near Kezar Falls. John Brack- 
ett, b. at Falmouth in 1770, m. Jane (Johnson?) b. also at Falmouth, 1771, 
They resided at Gorham,Me., and had children: George, b. Feb. 13, 1796; Mary, 
b. April 28, 1798; John, Jr., b. Feb. 23,1800; Wm. W., b. Sept. 22, 1803. About 
this time they moved to Parsonsfield, and had Johnson, b. Nov. 11, 1805, and 
others. Joseph Brackett, of Kezar Falls, is of this family. Son of John, or 
John, Jr., aged 66; wife, Mary B., 54. He is a carpenter; has one daughter, 
Carrie, 22. 

BTJRBANK. 

Capt. Silas Burbank and son Samuel were the first of this family in town, 
A son of Samuel, Samuel B., married Sally Pease, daughter of Deacon John 
Pease, and had five sons, Nathaniel, Charles, Luther, John and George D, 



452 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Nathaniel is editor of a local paper in ^New Orleans; Charles resides in Boston; 
Luther was in the army, died in Parsonsfield; George D. resides at North Con- 
way, N. H , and John retains the homestead. Another son of Samuel, Eleazer, 
studied medicine (see page 137). A third, Archibald, settled in Newfield; also 
another son, Caleb. The youngest son, Wm. S. Burbank, settled on the home- 
stead; died in 1880; left two daughters, both dead, and two sons, both living — 
the eldest, William, married, and residing on the home place. 

BICKFORD. 

George Bickford^ came to Parsonsfield in 1778; had sons, Stephen, George Jr., 
Thomas, James, Ichabod, Ebenezer, Gideon, and daughters, Judith and Rhoda. 
Stephen^ remained on*liomestead; had sous, George^, Ira H. and James. George' 
resided in town, and had a numerous family, two of whom, John and James, 
occupy the homestead. Gideon^ married Miss Piper; removed to North Parsons- 
field; raised a large family — none now liviug in town save Mary, the wife of 
Andrew McChapman. Ira H.,^ son of Stephen^ married a daughter of Noah 
Burnham, and resides in Boston. 

At an early date Enoch Hale settled at South Parsonsfield. He had five 
sons, Simeon, Enoch, Zachariah, Benjamin and Samuel, and two daughters. 
Simeon for a time resided in town; now resides in Independence, Iowa. Benja- 
min, m. Olive Frost; had one son, Frank, a resident of Lowell, Mass., who owns 
the homestead here, and the buildings have been rebuilded and remodeled during 
the present year. 

Ira. Haines settled also at South Parsonsfield; had six children, two sons and 
four daughters. The daughters are all dead. Both sons reside in town. John 
M., the eldest, m. Abby Symmes, and they have three children, Albert H., Tom- 
mie W. and Jennie W. Joseph, the second son, m. Ada Caldwell, and resides 
with an uncle. Ivory Emery. They have one son. 

OTIS B. CHURCHILL, 

second son of Maj. Thomas and Mary (Banks) Churchill, was b. in 
Parsonsfield, Nov. 5, 1832, obtained his education at district school, 
and North Parsonsfield Seminary, and m. Jan. 2, 1861, Miss Susan E. 
Ferrin, of Freedom, N. H. They have had three children, two sons 
and a daughter. The eldest son, b. April 24, 1862, died in infancy. 
The second son, Charles C, b. June 2, 1863, has been in business in 
•Cornish, Me. The daughter, Sarah M., b. June 14, 1865, is yet 
with her parents. Mr. Churchill purchased a farm near the paternal 
homestead, and has devoted most of his time to agriculture and stock 
raising, being much interested in improved breeds, in which he has 
invested quite liberally. He is shrewd and circumspect, a good finau- 







"'*^^^Wf 







„„.„.,.-.«."»"'■' 



c?.m^^^--^^ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 453 

cier, and a most worthy and trusted townsman. In politics, he is a 
democrat, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his party and asso- 
ciates ; and. has been elected to serve the town as selectman several 
years, and as town clerk four years. He is one who never abuses a 
trust given to his charge, or the confidence reposed in him. 

There was a John Bickfobd, who settled on the northern slope of Randall's 
mountain about 1800. He had sons, William, Daniel, Benjamin and Abram. 
None are left in town. 

Elisha Peekins also settled in the same school district, and had sons, George 
and John. I know of but one of the family now living, Mrs. James Towle, of 
Limerick, Me. 

John Lord came from Berwick, 1799, and bought a farm of the proprietors 
of the town, which had been occupied for a time by Winthrop Wiggin. It is 
now owned by his grandson, John B. Lord, and joins the farm formerly owned 
by Elisha Perkins. 

Friend Bolton also settled in the same neighborhood, on the farm now 
owned by Silas M. Boothby. He sold to Samuel Dalton, and later it became the 
property of Joseph Boothby, grandfather of the present owner. 

Andrew "Welch settled near here. He was extensively engaged in agricult- 
ure and stock raising. He had three sons: Isaac, who settled in Limerick; 
Asa, who settled in Effingham, N. H.; and Cyrus Brackett, who remained on the 
home farm, following mercantile business, agriculture and dealing in stock. The 
farm has now passed into other hands. 

Benjamin Smith settled at what is known as Blaisdell's Mills, on the eastern 
side of the town about 1790, built a mill there, and later Simeon Blaisdell, a 
brother of Dr. John J. Blaisdell, the first white practitioner of medicine in town, 
owned and occupied here. His eldest son opened a grocery store at this place; 
later removed to Saco. A daughter, Charlotte, married Theophilus Allen, black- 
smith. Mr. Allen had two daughters; one became the wife of John Thompson, 
of Newfield, and the other became the wife of Horace Hodsdon, who yet residea 
at this place. 

BENSON. 

John Benson and son, James, ^ came about 1780. James'' m. Miss Bickford; 
had three sons, John, Ebenezer and James. ^ The eldest son left town. Eben- 
ezer m. Miss Hayes, and his two sons reside in town — Cyrus I. and James.* 
The latter has a son Cyrus, who resides in Portland. One daughter is the wife 
of John P. Burbank, of Parsonsfield, and one the wife of Calvert Stevens, of 
Newfield. Several have died. Cyrus I. has two sons, John and Frank, and two 
daughters, the eldest, Elsie E., the wife of Rev. C. B. Peckham, and the 
youngest, Ruth A., a school teacher. James^ m. Anna Clark; had three chil- 



454 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

dren, George W. (see pages 64, 297), Emily and Sabrina. The latter was the 
wife of Wentworth Moulton. 

NASON. 

Eufus IS'ason was b. in Wakefield, N". H., about 1810; m. Miss Getchell, of jSTew- 
field; had two children; moved to Parsonsfield about 1850. His daughter is the 
wife of David Demeritt, of ISTewfield. His son, Isaac, married Elizabeth, daughter 
of Phineas "Wentworth, of Wakefield: resides with his parents. He has taken 
considerable interest in the improvement of the breeds of horses; has been suc- 
cessful in his ventm-es; is quiet and reserved, but a man of integrity and sterling 
worth. 

Dea. David Burbakk, lately deceased, was long a resident of the south part 
of the town; married Miss Hill, and had two sons, Eufus and Silas, and four 
daughters. Rufus, now a resident on the homestead, m. Katy Linscott, and has 
two children now living, a son, Lin wood, and a daughter, Abby, the wife of Dr. 
Jackson, of Weston, Mass. 

JOHN DEVEREUX, 

of whom brief mention was made on page 351, is a man of unusual 
energy and business enterprise. He left home in Parsonsfield in 1841, 
at the age of twenty-one years, inheriting, instead of lands and stocks, 
and silver and gold, that which by far outweighs them all in the race 
of life, a powerful physique, a clear head, an honest heart, a determined 
will, an indomitable energy, ready to meet life's duties manfully, and 
brave its perils with unflinching hand. He was employed at Orono, 
Me., by the late John Goddard and others, for twelve years, running 
gang-saws, and was the first man who ever run gang-saws on the Penob- 
scot. During this time, he m. Miss Eliza Patten, of Newport, Me., and 
they have one son, Dr. Frank G. Devereux, in successful practice at 
Kezar Falls, Parsonsfield. In 1856, Mr. Devereux returned to his old 
home in Parsonsfield, where he tarried one year, and then removed to 
Boston, engaging in business with his brother-in-law, Mr. Eben Foss, 
in moving pianos and furniture, where he remained fifteen years. In 
1871, he returned to the old homestead, near Kezar Falls, where he 
expended large sums in improvement of lands, and in rebuilding. 
Soon after, he made a purchase of the saw-mills at Kezar Falls, built a 
new grist-mill, erected a large and imposing mansion, with out-buildings 
in keeping, engaged largely in lumbering and milling, and in 1880, in 
company with George W. Towle, erected the woolen mill, which is now 







JOHN DEVEP.EUK 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 455 

in most successful operation at that place, and which is by far the most 
importanjb business enterprise in the town of Parsonsfield. To the un- 
tiring energy and business enterprise of Mr. John Devereux, the town 
is largely indebted for this. Some account of its prosperity and 
achievements are to be found on pages 332 and 333. In politics, Mr. 
Devereux is a republican, well-informed, outspoken, and straight-for- 
ward, never allowing his name used for any office, having been elected 
one of the municipal officers, in this strong democratic town, but 
refusing to accept the trust; devoted to the pursuit of business, and 
deservedly successful, we find him, at the age of sixty-eight years, in 
purpose and resolve not the least abated from what he was at twenty- 
one, when he started out, determined to conquer in life's battles. But 
unlike the then young man, he is surrounded by the comforts and 
luxuries which wealth bestows ; his pleasant and commodious residence 
is furnished with taste, and is lighted by electricity. His generosity, kind- 
ness, and helpfulness, are widely felt, and universally acknowledged. 

HODSDOlsr. 

Israel Hodsdon was early a settler in the south part of the town. He had sons, 
Timothy, Samuel, Lewis, Israel and Asa. All are dead, and none of their de- 
scendants remain in town. 

Daniel Cheney owns and occupies the Hodsdon homestead. He has two 
sons, Martin J., a resident of Middleton, Mass., and Luther A., of Saco, Me. 
Mr. Cheney has been thrice married. His present wife, whom he married some 
ten years since, was Miss Jennie Chase, of ]S[ewfield. 

George Davis m. Nancy Hammonds, of Cornish, and purchased the Col. 
Joseph Parsons place, which is yet owned and occupied by his son, George P. 
There were two daughters besides the son, Fannie C, the wife of Seth Chellis, 
of Parsonsfield, and Sarah L., the wife of Hon. U. B. Thompson, of Newfield. 
Mr. Davis was killed in Dec, 1848, in loading a stone. His widow resides with 
the son, who is a lawyer, farmer and school teacher. 

Shem Knight m. a daughter of John Doe; had two sons, James and Luther. 
James is a resident on the homestead; has been twice married; has but one child 
living, the wife of John Weymouth, of Salem, Mass. 

Joseph Knight, b. in Kittery, 1769, m. Mary (or ISTancy) Weeks, b. in Gil- 
mantown, 1776; came to East Parsonsfield about 1792, and took up the farm later 
owned by Deacon Timothy Eastman, and now owned by his son, James East- 
man. They had children: Susanna, who became the wife of Dea. Eastman, 
Sally, Samuel W., James W., Sally 2d, Zebulon, Joseph and Ephraim — the eldest 



456 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

born in 1793, and the youngest in 1809. Mr. Knight d. 1810. All the other 
children settled elsewhere. 

Daniel Chick moved here from Cornish in 1798; had eight children, viz.: 
James, Thomas, Anna, Joseph, Lucy, Eebecca, Jane and John — the eldest born 
in 1794, and the youngest in 1811. Nealry all of the name are gone from tovrn. 

Daniel Philbrick settled near Middle Road Village in 1790. He had four 
daughters, Susanna, Elizabeth, Abigail and Caroline. I have no further trace of 
the family. 

JosiAH Kent was one of the pioneers. He was b. in Ipswich, 1762. Mina, 
his wife, was b. at Brentwood in 1763. They had ten children, viz. : Abigail, 
Josiah, Susanna, Mary, Mina, Stephen, Rachel, Robert, Jonathan and Elizabeth, 
between the years 1786 and 1806. No one of the name has been a resident of 
the town for many years. 

Joseph C. Huntress came from Newington in 1800. His children that were 
born prior to 1806, were Samuel, Hannah, Elsie, Polly and Sally. 

Samuel Hobbs came from Northampton in 1783. He was b. in 1736, and his 
wife, Lydia in 1757. Their children were, Abigail, Polly, Hannah, Samuel (d. in 
infancy), Lydia, Samuel, Eliza and Daniel (who also died in infancy). I have 
no further trace of the family. 

John Rogers (not the one who was burnt at the stake), came from York. 
His family of ten children was born at Kittery, all save the last. Their names 
were, Nathaniel, Polly, Abigail, George, John, Polly, Sally, Joseph, Samuel, 
Hannah. He came to town in 1800. None of the name remain. 

Aaron Goodwin settled on the South Road, so called, in 1796. His children 
were: Lewis, b. 1787; Moses, b. 1789; Sally, b. 1795, m. Samnel Lougee and had 
children, Susan. Betsey, Lewis G. (a retired merchant of Portland), Charlotte 
(wife of Henry Foss, of Parsonsfield), and Abby; and John, b. 1797. 

Isaac Emery and wife, Elizabeth, came to South Parsonsfield about 1800. 
Their children were: Joseph, b. 1788; Hannah, b. 1791; Lovey, b. 1792: Polly, 
b. 1795; Hiram, b. 1796; Wm. O., b. 1799; Ivory, b. 1802, and Temple, b. 1801. 
All are dead save Ivory, who was never married; and Temple, who resides in 
Eastern Maine. 

Simon Marston and wife, Polly, came from Hampton. They were born, 1772. 
They settled at West Parsonsfield, and their children were, Aurelia, Deborah 
who married Cresey Dodge, Mary, Susan and Daniel Simon. Mrs. Dodge and 
Susan are yet living. 

James Morrison, a Revolutionary soldier, came and settled on the South 
Road north of Maj. Paul Burnham's, quite early. His children were, William, 
James, Polly, Sally, Isaac, Betsey, Jonathan, Alvah and Judith. None of the 
name remain. 

John Huntruss and wife, Pliebe, came about 1800. He was b. in Newing- 
ton, 1775; she at North Yarmouth, 1783. Their children were, Robert, John, 





s 



*'"»* 



"i-^c 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 457 

Frederick, James, Nathan, Thomas, Silas, Sarah A. and Mary — born between 
1802 and 1822. 

Tristram Mighel moved into the Cartland neighborhood about 1800, buy- 
ing the place of Daniel Piper, and sold to John Tarbox. His children were 
Sukie. Daniel and Samuel — born between 1799, and 1806. 

Noah Wedgwood, b. in Newmarket in 1758, and his wife, Abigail, b. in 
1760, came to Parsonsfield in 1787 ; had children, James, Samuel, Elizabeth, 
Sally, Noah and Abigail. Mrs. Wedgwood d. 1798, and he married Mrs. Polly 
Towne, and had children : Amos T., b. 1799 ; Abigail, b. 1801 ; Alvah. b. 1803 • 
Francis, b. 1805 ; John, b. 1807, and Mary A., b. 1811. 

MOORE. 

From the old records I copy the following, which renders the claim made on pages 233 and 350, that 
Joseph Moore was the first white vmJe child born in Parsonsfield, without foundation: Walter Avery 
son of Jeremiah and Rachel Avery, was born in 1776, precise date unknown. Jolm and Elizabeth (Ames) 
Doe had a son Kartlett, born June 22, 1776, who also died in infancy [see page 377]. There is but little 
doubt that this latter has the prior claim, with Walter Avery second, and Joseph Moore as late as the 
third. He was probably the first who lived to manhood. The date of his birth, given on page 350 as 
Jan , 1776, was an error through misinformation. No doubt the first white c/ti7rf was the r/aHj/Zt/er of 
Eben Moore. Dearborn. 

The children of Eben Moore and<his wife were, Polly, b. Aug. 5, 1775 ; Joseph 
b. Jan. 16, 1777 ; Sally, b. 1783 ; Dennis, b. 1785 : John, b. 1787 ; Eben, b. 1789 ; 
Daniel, b. 1791 : William, b. 1794 ; Rebecca, b. 1796. 

NATHANIEL H. CHURCHILL, 

youngest son of Maj. Thomas, was born May 8, 1839, and occupies the 
Churchill homestead, purchased by the grandfather, Ichabod, in the 
latter years of the century past. In this brief notice, full credit can- 
not be given, nor justice done him, for the great interest he has taken 
to improve the breeds of neat stock in town. No one in upper York, 
and but few in the state of Maine, have manifested so great an interest 
in this direction. He has invested largely, and has reaped the recom- 
pense. He also devotes care and attention to raising horses. In this, 
the entire family, for two generations past, have taken just pride. One 
cannot fail of pleasure and satisfaction in visiting his full-stored and 
finely-stocked barn. His home is one of hospitality and comfort. He 
was married, on Jan. 7, 1885, to Mrs. Sophie Edgar, of New York, a 
lady of refinement and taste. With them, the good mother, now past 
fourscore years, resides. This burden of years does not quench her 
generous impulses, or render her oblivious to the social enjoyments of 
the young, or of the more advanced, and her society is therefore sought 
and appreciated by all. Mr. Churchill is modest and unassuming, 
frankness and honesty characterizing him in his intercourse and deal- 
ings, with industry, self-reliance and persistence, sufficient to render 
him in his efforts a success. 



458 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

CHASE. 

Moses Chase came from Newbury. He was b. 1769. His children were : Re- 
becca, b. in Parsonsfield, 1793 ; Anna, b. 1795 ; Moses, b. 1797 ; Joel, b. 1799 ; 
Mary, b. 1802 ; Sarah, b. 1804 ; Washington, b. 1806 ; Dorothy, b. 1810 ; Levi, b. 
1813; Johnr.,b. 1815. 

David Chase, a brother of Moses, b. 1778, settled at North Parsonsfield about 
1797. Children : Samuel, Edmund, David W. C, and Betsey. Edmund and 
David W. C. settled in town. The sons of the latter are yet residents of Par- 
sonsfield. 

John Chase, a half brother of Moses and David, settled near the Andrew 
Welch place. Flis children were, Joseph, John, Levi, Betsey and Mary. They 
left town many years since. 

JoH^r Gammon and Eunice, his wife, settled at North Parsonsfield, 1803. 
Their children were, Betsey, b. in Newmarket, 1799 ; John, b. 1802, d. ea.v\y ; 
John, b in Parsonsfield, 1804 ; George, b. 1806 ; Sally, b. 1808 ; Eunice, b. 1810 ; 
Emily, b. 1813 ; William, b. 1816 ; Albert, b. 1820. 

James Berry came from Gilmantown, N. H., in 1787. His children were, 
Ephra-im, Nathan, Betsey, James, Morrill, Nancy, Polly, Sally, Daniel, Levi, 
Nancy 2d, John and Lydia — all born between 1784 and 1815. I have no further 
trace of any of the family. 

Daniel Elliot settled near Mudgett Pond, coming from Limington in 1791. 
His children were : Rebecca ; Mary ; Lydia ; Dorothy, who married Oliver Parker; 
Betsey (Mrs. Levi Foss), now living ; John ; Daniel, who occupied the homestead, 
and whose son Daniel yet owns and occupie? the same ; Jane, who was the wife 
of John Remick ; Joshua, and James. The sons of Joshua reside in town. 

Cutting Moulton m. Lydia Lord, daughter of Rev. Wentworth Lord. He 
was born in Newbury, 1788 ; she, in Ossipee, N. H., 1791. Their children were, 
Lydia B., Sally L., Patience B., Almira, Orinda, Emery B., Mary F., James W., 
John L., Susan and Albert. Mrs. Moulton later was the wife of Col. Bartlett 
Doe, and the daughter, Susan, the wife of Hon. Alvah Doe. 

Ebenezer Gould m. Catherine Smith, and settled in Parsonsfield, 1794. He 
came from Wells. His children were, James, Major, Noah (d. early), Catherine, 
Ebenezer, Samuel (drowned), Catherine 2d (m. James Perry), and Noah 2d. 
Ebenezer and Noah settled in town. They had no sons. 

Samuel Chapman was early at North Parsonsfield. His children were, Bet- 
sey, b. 1792 ; Hale, b. 1793 ; Henry, b. 1794 ; Mary, b 1790 ; Hannah, b. 1799. 
By his second wife he had, Mark, b. 1804 ; Pamelia, b. 1805 ; Caroline, b. 1807 ; 
Hale S., b. 1810 ; Andrew Mc, b. 1813. 

Ebenezer Kezar, m. Nancy (Paine?) ; child, John Paine Kezar, b. 1801 ; by 
second wife, Hannah, he had Nancy Paine, John, George, Charles, Sephrona. 

Joseph Mulloy, b. in Limington 1786, m. Hannah Gilpatrick, of Limerick, 
b. 1787 ; children, Mary, John (died in infancy), Eliza, Hannah. Kate and 





(J '^i^^^-^ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 459 

Charles. Mary m, John Morrill of Parsonsfield, and has one son, John, a res- 
ident on the homestead at Middle Road Village, and several daughters who have 
married and left town, all save one, Mrs. Samuel Merrill. Hannah m. James 
Smart, went to Cincinnati, Ohio; later became the wife of Mr. J. Story. Kate 
m. A. Moulton, and Charles resides in Waltham, Mass. He is a man of 
much literary taste and talent. 

Archelatjs Pray, b. 1769, m. Sally (Fernald?), b. 1774. Their children 
were N'abby, Ira, Sally, Orrilla, Adeline, William Fernald, Abram and John. 
None remain in town. 

Samuel Allen came from "Wakefield, N. H., 1801. His children were John, 
Elijah (never married), Henry, m., left no issue (place now occupied by Robert 
Merrill), Nancy, Samuel, Enoch (left no sons), Sally, Amasa, and Ira. All 
dead or removed from town. 

NEHEMIAH T. LIBBY, 

only son of Isaac and Roxanna (Towle) Libby, was born in Porter, 
Me., Sept. 20, 1837. His father removed to Parsonsfield in 1854, and 
settled near Porter Bridge, on a farm, a portion of which lies within the 
Gore, so-called. In 1860, Mr. Libby married Reliance, daughter of 
Maj. Thomas Churchill, and resided with his father until his death, 
which occurred May 23, 1887. They had two children, a daughter, 
who married Mr. O. F. Wiggin, and a son, Walter D., now in the 
employ of G. W. Towle, merchant, at Kezar Falls. In 1872 and '73, 
Mr. Libby was one of the municipal officers of the town. He was a 
man too reserved to seek distinction, yet well fitted to fill such position 
as he might, by his associates, be selected for. He was industrious and 
frugal, attended closely to business, and was numbered among the 
most successful farmers and stock-raisers in town. 

David Smith, b. in Newmarket, 1771, m. Polly (Ransom?) of Epping, b. 
1773; moved to Nottingham in 1794, thence to Epping in 1795, thence to Lim- 
erick, Me., 1799, thence to Parsonsfield in 1801. Their children were, David, 
Polly, Ranaom, Betsey, Joseph, (who lived and died in Parsonsfield), Dorothy, 
Jacob, Esther, Ezekiel (d. in infancy), Lucinda (d. early), Lydia A. and Sarah 
A. (twins), Greenlief and Lucinda, who m. Jeremiah White of Parsonsfield, 
moved to Eaton, and is now the wife of Mr. Snow of Eaton, N. H. A son of 
Joseph, George Smith, retains the homestead. 

Daniel Thurston, m. Hannah Dutch. His children b. in Parsonsfield were 
Sally, George, Hitty, Stephen, Mary, Betsey, Hannah, Daniel and Samuel. 

John Lougee, a brother of Samuel and Gilman (see p. 279), b. in Brentwood, 
1758, came to town with his brothers 1778 to 1780. His wife Betsey was b. 1765. 



460 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Their children were, John, b. 1784, m. Anna Parsons, settled at South Parsons- 
field, and had children, John P., Abigail M., Charles (d. early), George W., Eliz- 
abeth, Caleb, James S. (d. in infancy), James F. and Charles. None remain in 
town, Samuel, b. 1787, m. Sally Goodwin (referred to under Aaron Goodwin), 
Dorothy, b. 1788, Simeon, b. 1795, Gilman, b. 1796, m. daughter of James San- 
born, and a son, John, resides at North Parsonsfield. Elizabeth, b. 1798, m. Dr. 
Wilkinson of Tamworth, N. H. Sarah, b. 1801, m. John Dearborn, son of Francis, 
and d. in Dexter. William K., b. 1804, Horatio P., b. 1806, and Ithiel S., who 
lived and died at East Parsonsfield. Two of his sons reside there, John and 
Abner. 

David Marston, b. 1756, m. Mary Page, 1772; moved from Hampton to Par- 
sonsfield, 1784; had children, David, Abigail, Mary, Levi, Anna, Jacob (d. early), 
Betsey, Jacob and Kuth. Levi and Jacob settled in town, None of their sons 
reside here, 

Caleb Marston (brother of David ?) came to town the same year. He and 
wife Rachel had children, Joseph, Comfort, Simon, Comfort^, Hannah, Sarah, 
Simon^, Sally and Caleb. Comfort, Comfort', Simon, Sarah, and Joseph died 
early. They were all born prior to 1805. 

Joseph Granville came from Durham with his wife Molly in 1783. Their 
children were Molly, Nancy, Hannah, Thomas, Stephen, Mercy, Joseph. His 
first wife, Molly, died in 1783, and he married a Molly for his second wife, and 
had Sally, Lydia, Fanny, Elizabeth, George and Joseph' (see p. 381). 

Jonathan Kimball, m. Nancy (Granville), and their children, all born in 
Parsonsfield, were John, b. 1791, Joseph, b. 1793, Polly, b. 1795, Daniel, b. 1797, 
David, b. 1800, McHenry and Mercy, b. 1802 (twins), Thomas, b. 1805, Alvah, 
b. 1808, Nancy, b. 1810, James, b. 1812, and John G. John d. early, Daniel and 
David settled near Lord's Mills on the old homestead. Nancy was never mar- 
ried, John G, (see p. 156), 

Almon Lord was b. May 10, 1803, m. Mary Moulton, b. April 1, 1811. Resided 
near Middle Road Village until his death. He was a member of the Governor's 
Council in 1863 or thereabouts for several years. His youngest eon, Almon D. 
Lord, occupies the homestead with sister and mother. 

Benjamin Downs came from Yarmouth and settled near Province Pond, 
He m. Sally Colley and they had seven children, three sons and four daughters. 
The eldest daughter is Mrs. George Nelson of Portland, the second, Mrs. Joseph 
Nutter of Portland, the third was the wife of Rufus Doe of Parsonsfield, and 
the fourth is unmarried. George, the eldest son, owns the Daniel Ames place, 
and William D. the homestead farm. The youngest son, John, ia a resident of 
Portland. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 46 1 

NEWBEGIN. 

This family has been prominent at Kezar Falls during about all of 
the present century. 

George Newbegin, whose father came from Scotland, settled in Par- 
sonsfield in 1803. He had two brothers, Jonathan and David. The 
former settled in Pownal, and the latter, who was a sea-captain, set- 
tled in Portland. George married Lettice Harding, and had a family 
of nine children, a majority of whom were born prior to his residence 
in Parsonsfield, viz. : Annie, David, Jonathan, Polly, George, Abra- 
ham, Betsey, Flanders, and Elias. During the war of 1812, he was in 
the service and held the commission of Captain. Several of his sons 
have been residents of the town. None now remain here save the 
youngest, Elias, who was born in Parsonsfield in 1806. He has been, 
and is, a man of much energy and business capacity. In early life he 
left home, to learn the comb maker's trade. Soon after completing 
his term of apprenticeship, he was chosen superintendent, and had 
charge of the comb factory for ten years. Failing health obliged him 
to abandon the business, and he returned to his native town, where he 
was successfully engaged in mercantile business for many years, and 
where he yet resides. In 1834 he was married to Miss Mary Hoyt of 
Rhode Island, and they have a family of five children, viz : Carrie, 
John S., Elias, Walter, and Fannie. 

JOHN S. NEWBEGIN, 

Eldest son of Elias and Mary (Hoyt) Newbegin, was born in Port- 
land in 1842. He was educated in the Saco Grammar and High schools, 
early studied navigation, and at the age of seventeen, went to sea. 
He followed a sea-faring life for four years, becoming second mate at 
the expiration of one year, and soon thereafter arose to the position of 
mate of a merchant-ship. At this time he received a commission from 
the Secretary of the Navy as an Acting Master's Mate, and served 
until the Avar closed, on board the Frigate Niagara and the United 
States Ship Oyiivard, as a watch officer. In this service he contracted 
malarial fever, and was otherwise severely injured, rendering him una- 
ble now to perform any active business, though for seventeen years 
after the close of the war, he engaged in mercantile business at Kezar 



462 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

Falls, despite the disadvantages under which he labored, and the in- 
tense suffering to which he was subjected, in consequence of his great 
misfortune. In 1874 he married Miss Julia A. Mahony of Saco, and 
they have one son, Frank L. Newbegin. Mr. Newbegin is a man of 
fine physical proportions, with an active, well-balanced mind, full of 
vital force, and indomitable will power which enables hira to surmount 
and overcome obstacles ; and with a native grace and ease, and an open 
generosity and genuine hospitality, which make his presence felt, and 
his home one of attraction and comfort. Within the few years past 
he has erected near his old home, a beautiful residence, which is one of 
convenience and attraction, where his many friends find a warm and 
cordial welcome. 

PROF. STEPHEN HOLMES WEEKS, M D., 
(See page 153.) 

Son of John and Mehitable (Holmes) Weeks, and great grandson 
of Rev. Samuel Weeks, who settled in town two years prior to its in- 
corporation, was born in Cornish, October 6, 1835. His education was 
obtained at Fryeburg academy, and he pursued the study of medicine 
at the Portland school for Medical Instruction, attending lectures at 
Bowdoin, and also at the University of Pennsylvania, where he gradu- 
ated in 1864. He immediately settled in Portland in general practice. 
Soon after, he became teacher of anatomy and surgery in the Portland 
school, and in 1877 was appointed to the chair of Anatomy in the 
Medical School of Maine ; and four years later was appointed to the 
chair of Surgery made vacant by the death of Prof. William Warren 
Greene, which position he still holds. For the past twelve years his 
practice has been mostly consultation and surgery. He is a member, 
and has been President of the Cumberland County Medical Society; 
a member of the Maine Medical Association, and of the American 
Medical Association ; and was a member of the International Medical 
Congress, which met at Washington, D. C, in September, 1887, and 
was a member of the Council of the Section on Gynecology, present- 
ing in that section a noteworthy paper, and taking an active part in its 
discussions. He has contributed articles of interest and profit to the 
transactions of the Maine Medical Association ; and has made several 
contributions to the American Medical Association. In the Boston 




PROF.STrPhF.N HOLMES WEEKS, M.D.y 



f^ 



^^•^.^* 




~^^^ yh <?Cc<><^ 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 463 

Medical and Surgical Journal for November 24, 1887, appears an inter, 
esting report by him of a case of nephrectomy for hydronephrosis. He 
belongs to the Surgical staff of the Maine General Hospital, and also 
is consulting surgeon of the Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary. Besides 
his many operations of more or less magnitude, he has made rising _^^y 
abdominal sections. As a surgeon, and as a consulting physician, he 
approaches his work studiously and contemplatively, with an honesty 
of purpose and a calmness and clearness of judgment, as well as with 
a thoroughness of knowledge and practical skill which insure success. 
In his intercourse with others he is dicfuified and deferential in man- 
ner, though fixed and determined in spirit. He was married soon after 
graduating, to Miss Mary, daughter of Rev. P. C. Richmond of Frj^e- 
burg, and they have one daughter, Marion Richmond. 

GEORGE W. TOWLE 
Of Kezar Falls, was born in Westbrook, Maine, July 7, 1829, 
son of Joseph G., and grandson of William Towle, Esq., of Porter, 
who came from Hampton, and settled there at an early period in 
the present century, and who became a large owner of real estate, 
and for many years was the leading merchant and business man of 
that place. Joseph G. returned with his family to Porter in 1835, and 
there resided. Here the subject of this sketch has passed most of life, 
becoming a resident of Parsonsfield in 1879. Most of his life has been 
devoted to agriculture, mercantile and lumber business. He was a 
member of the board of selectmen for ten successive years, six of 
which he was chairman, besides holding for periods, the office of treas- 
urer, also constable and collector. During all these years he was a 
pronounced democrat, but for the past few years has refused to follow 
the party in their free trade theories, but is in perfect accord with the 
protectionists, and is an ardent admirer and supporter of Hon. James 
G. Blaine. Since becoming a resident of Parsonsfield, he'has invested 
largely in, and was one of the proprietors of the Woolen Manufac- 
turing Company established at Kezar Falls, — is the heaviest stock 
owner — and has erected a large store, in which he is doing a lucrative 
business. He is president, treasurer, and one of the directors of the 
Company, and they are doing some over $100,000 worth of business 



464 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

per annum. Their mills are lighted by electricity, as is also his store 
and the dwellings of the members of the firm. This place is by far 
the most important business point in town, has a large water power, is 
very prosperous and thriving, and it owes its development and growth 
largely to G. W. Towle and John Devereux, of whom mention has 
been made on a previous page. Industry, circumspection, and busi- 
ness capacity have made Mr. Towle a notable success. In religious 
views he is an avowed liberal. He was married in 1853 to Miss Susan 
M. Gilman. Two children have been theirs, both dying early. 

PILLSBURY. 

The enterprise of the Pillsbury Brothers, sons of David and Sally 
(Banks) Pillsbury, deserves brief mention. They have erected a 
large boarding-house at Kezar Falls, which they occupy during the 
summer months, and which is deservedly well patronized. They are 
all young men of much ambition, and carry on quite an extensive 
business at 74 East Dedham street, Boston, where they have a sale, 
livery, and boarding stable. They are also extensively engaged in the 
manufacture and sale of carriages and sleighs. These brothers, Oliver, 
D., John, and Jacob Banks, were born in Parsonsfield. There is one 
sister, Abby, and the widowed mother. One of the brothers is married. 

THOMAS parsons' FAMILY. 

We regret very much that no more appears in this volume relative 
to the large family of nineteen children of Thomas Parsons, Esq., yet 
the fault is none of ours, but in consequence of the indifference of 
others. A few of the descendants have interested themselves in this 
direction, notably. Prof. L. O. Emerson, aud George Parsons, Esq., 
but their efforts have not been seconded by others, in whose hands and 
memories the facts and data necessary are lodged. We have been en- 
abled, at much expense of time and research, to place before the en- 
quirer such facts as appear relative to Mr. Parsons on page 240, of his 
his eldest son Thomas, on page 2'12, and of his son Thomas B., page 
243. 

The second was a son, Stephen, who was born in 1760, and died in 
1764. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 465 

The third was Joseph, well and widely known as Colonel Joseph 
Parsons, who was twice married, first, to Lydia Lord, and second, to 
Abigail Adams, and who had a family of sixteen children. Of these, 
the eldest, a daughter Anna, married John Garland of Hampton, who 
died in Newfield, Maine, in 1872. Among her ten children, are Rev. 
David Garland, late of Bethel, and Deacon Jonathan A. Garland, of 
Newfield. One daughter, Mary, was the mother of Joseph Parsons, 
whose portrait appears further on, and of George Parsons, Esq., 
referred to above. One married Asa Burnham. Two became in turn 
the wives of David Garland, late of Winslow (see page 301). One 
married Dr. Nathaniel Pease, late of Bridgton. One married Lot 
Wiggin, late of Limerick. Several died unmarried, and two sons, 
physicians, are noticed, and have portraits, pages 144 and 145. 

The fourth child of Mr. Thomas Parsons was Enoch, who was 
drowned in Parsonsfield, in 1782, at the age of twenty-two years. 

The fifth was Stephen, reference to whom is made on page 314. He 
married Abigail Moore, and had a numerous family, among whom was 
Rev. John Usher (see page 59), also Abigail, the mother of Orlando 
T. Parks was one of his daughters (see page 437). One also, married 
Harvey Moore ; one, Stephen Piper ; one, Timothy Sims ; one, Caleb 
Burbank; and one, John Lougee. 

The sixth was Nancy, who married John Pease, and later, 

Holmes. 

The seventh was Hon. John Usher, who married Susan Savoy, and 
died 1825, aged 46 years. 

Mary, the eighth, married Major John Leavitt of Effingham. 

Sarah, the ninth, married Asa Pease of Newmarket. 

The tenth child, Elizabeth, married Capt. Luther Emerson, who, as 
well as his sons, has received mention elsewhere (see pages 61, 65, 142, 
163, 245, 246). 

The eleventh, Susan, married Richard F. Dow of Wakefield. His 
descendants occupy as a summer resort, the old homestead, which has 
recently been made very attractive and commodious, at a large expense. 

Capt. Thomas B. Parsons (see page 243), was the twelfth child. 

The thirteenth was Abigail, who married Isaac M. Parker. 

William was the fourteenth, born 1792 ; married Sarah S. Dearborn, 
80 



466 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Pickering) Dearborn of Greenland, 
N. H., resided in Springfield, Mass., and died in 1876. Had six chil- 
dren, four sons and two daughters. 

The fifteenth was Lucy, who married Isaac B. Chesley of Wakefield. 
James Chesley of Wakefield, N. H., and Charles Chesley of Washing- 
ton, D. C, are among her children. She was born in 1793, and out- 
lived all the other members of this family. 

Lucinda, the sixteenth, died in infancy. 

Captain Sylvester, the seventeenth, born in Parsonsfield, May, 1797, 
married Abigail Dearborn, another daughter of Benjamin and Sarah, 
of Greenland; had nine children; resided in Wilson, N. Y. He fol- 
lowed a sea-faring life for about fourteen years, receiving the commis- 
sion of Captain. His later life was devoted to agriculture. One of 
his sons, Sylvester, graduated at Geneva Medical College and afterward 
pursued the study of law, which he practiced at Wilson. 

Lucinda, the eighteenth, married Dr. David T. Livy of Wolfborough, 
N. H,, and had seven children, the eldest the wife of Dr. Jeremiah 
Hall, of Portsmouth, and the youngest, the wife of Samuel W. Rollins, 
of Somersworth, N. H. This family later resided at Meredith village. 

SAMUEL PAESONS. 

This brings us to the latest born, the nineteenth child, Samuel, born 
June 15, 1801 ; married Mary Brown Allen (to whom John Brown of 
Harper's Ferry fame, was related), March 5, 1828, and died in West 
Newton, Mass., December 22, 1869. His family of eight children were 
all born in Boston. The eldest, a son, Samuel, born in 1829, was a 
lawyer, and died at the age of thirty, in Philadelphia. The second, a 
son, Charles Allen, was born in 1831. The third, Mary Augusta, died 
in infancy. The fourth was Henry Bradbury, born 1834. The fifth, 
James Allen, born in 1837 ; the sixth, Ellen Augusta, is a resident of 
West Newton. The seventh, Edward Francis, born 1841. The eighth, 
a daughter, died in early childhood. One of the sons served during 
the entire war. They are mostly engaged in mercantile pursuits. 

Mr. Parsons became early a leading wholesale dry goods merchant 
in Boston. His career was one of success, and he is remembered by 
the older business men, as a man of kindness, integrity and prompti- 




SAMUEL PARSONS 



j 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 467 

tilde during his long business life. His place of business was on Kilby 
street ; here he carried on a large and profitable trade. He was mirth- 
ful, wittj, hospitable, generous, magnanimous, and honest. He en- 
joyed a joke, and could relate an anecdote to perfection. In the Boston 
Budget of November, 1883, a writer, unknown, under the caption of 
" The Dry Goods Trade, its History for Fifty Years and More," says : 

" By the way, Sam Parsons was an original character, and very pop- 
ular with the dry goods fraternity. He was a great tobacco chewer, 
and it was rather an interesting sight to see Parsons, Aaron Hobart, 
and George Blackburn, meet on the sidewalk between Water and Milk 
streets, on Kilby, to discuss political and business matters, and take a 
' chaw ' all around. Charles Merriam, of Sayles & Merriam, usually 
joined the ruminating crowd, which was sometimes disturbed in its dis- 
cussions by the advent of that irrepressible money borrower, Charles 
A. White, who was always 'short a few hundred.' " 

Mr. Parsons was a democrat, but a war democrat, and a great ad- 
mirer of President Lincoln, Another anecdote is related by a writer 
in the Sunday Herald of November 23, 1883, relative to an old time 
merchant, Johnny Lepeau, in which Mr. Parsons bore a part. The 
writer says : 

" The following anecdote of Johnny Lepeau was often related by 
Sam. Parsons, of whom I have already told you as being a large dry 
goods jobbing merchant on Kilby street. When a young man, Sara, 
was a clerk with Johnny, and one Monday morning, having drummed 
up a good customer from Wilde's tavern and brought him to the store, 
and sold him a large bill of goods, he was gratified at the glee mani- 
fested by his employer, who ended in saying, 'You have done very 
well, Sam ; and Sara, you may go to Higgins', get one new hat, and 
have it charged to me, by gar.' But Sam did not at once avail him- 
self of his employer's generosity. He thought it would be in better 
taste to wait a few days, and while waiting, it slipped his memory 
where he was to go for the hat. On Saturday, however, with bright 
visions of the sensation he would create on Sunday with his new hat, 
Sam approached Johnny with a reminder of his kindness, saying, ' I 
have forgotten who it was you told me to go to for that hat.' ' So 
have I, by gar, so have I,' quickly responded Johnny, who was not in 



468 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

particularly good humor over some loss he had met with, which was 
aggravated by a bad day's business. This furnished Mr, Parsons with 
a moral for young men. 'Never neglect to avail yourself at once of a 
generous offer, as delays make donors forgetful.' " 

Of this large and mentally strong family, Samuel Parsons, the latest 
born, was an honored success. 

The following sketch and portrait are furnished for this volume as a 
tribute of respect to the memory of the departed brother, by George 
Parsons, Esq., of New York City. 

Joseph Parsons, who died in Kennebuuk, Maine, September 11th, 1887, waa 
born in Alfred, December 6th, 1816. 

He was the great-grandson of Thomas Parsons, the grantee of Parsonsfield, 
the grandson of Col. Joseph Parsons of Parsonsfield, and a son of his daughter 
Mary (whom he strikingly resembled) and William Parsons of Alfred, being on 
his father's side, the seventh generation, and on his mother's, the eighth from 
his first ancestor in this country — Cornet Joseph Parsons of Northampton, 
Massachusetts. 

He mirried Mary Jane Cram of Merideth, N. H. 

The accompanying engraving shows he was no ordinary man, and his character 
proved that he inherited the sterling traits of his ancestors. He passed his youth 
in Alfred, and like most New England boys of his time, worked on his father's 
farm in summer and went to school in winter. 

He spent many winters South looking after affairs for himself and brother. 
Being a close observer of landscape scenery, of the manners and habits of people, 
a social and ready talker, it was a great pleasure to accompany him on those trips. 
He had a vigorous constitution, kept so through life by simple habits of living. 
He was upright and reliable in his dealings with others. He was not profuse in 
promises, but always making good, and more than good, those he did make. 
Once get him to say he would do a specific thing, and you did not need paper 
and ink for it. He was a resident of Kennebunk the last thirty-two years of hia 
life. 

He was trusted by his fellow-citizens and represented them in the State Legis- 
lature. He maintained his own rights and respected the rights of others, which 
kept him from being either servile or arrogant. This was the basis of his 
courtesy. 

Having a thoroughly democratic spirit, he met on a footing of delightful equality 
any man, however limited in capacity or humble in position. He was^acquisitive, 
but not avaricious. A favorite expression of his was " Live and let live." He 
exemplified it. He was accommodating and ready to respond to the needs of 
others. His was a social turn pervaded by a decided vein of pleasantry. He 





^^ii^^^^:^^ 



7 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 469 

immensely enjoyed a good story, and laughed heartily in hearing and telling one. 
His hospitality was sincere, unobtrusive; it had a largeness and freeness delight- 
fully suggestive of the olden time. The ties of relationship and friendship were 
psculiarly strong, and struck their roots through every fibre of his being. He 
was powerfully drawn toward old scenes, ways and customs, and most of all to 
old friends. 

Mr. Pars )as had an active mind an i a mature judgment which enabled him 
readily and w'sely to perfect plans. He was especially strong in will power; 
having once undertaken an enterprise he carried it through with persistent vigor, 
certitude and dispatch. To this power of planning and willing, he added con- 
stancy in effort. He worked hard and was among the busiest of mortals. He 
did not say go, but come, and thus was well-fitted to lead and spur others on in 
the line of practical work and enterprise. Thus his individuality asserted itself. 
"When he said a thing, he meant it. He had a way of saying a thing with so 
much quiet decision that it became evident to the most obtuse that he meant it. 
Though not a large man in physical stature, yet there was something indefinable 
about him which assured one that he was not to be trifled with or imposed upon. 
He had latent capacity which would doubtless have enabled him to reap marked 
success in a wider sphere in business enterprises. He was a true son of the soil 
— he loved his mother earth. Land and plenty of it was his delight. He reveled 
in open spaces of which he was proprietor. " Four acres enough" was not in 
accordance with his ideas. He enjoyed seeing things grow and causing them to 
grow. He facetiously said of his well-stored barn, that " it was the pleasantest 
room in the house." There, looking out upon a fine prospect, in a vicinage his 
own, and off upon the Sanford and Lebanon hills, he loved to sit and chat with 
his friends. Many an acre is the more productive because of him. He bettered 
everything he had to do with. He was not content unless he saw marked 
improvements, and he was ever on the alert in contributing toward them. He 
had a passion for trees. If all men were like him the forestry question would 
be settled. He did more than any one else to adorn and beautify the village of 
his residence with ornamental trees. The Centennial tree, near the Town Hall, 
will always be associated with his name. 

The elm was Mr. Parsons' favorite tree. He spent much time in setting 
them out on his own land, the lands of others, and along the highways. These 
same trees are monuments to his public spirit, his taste and benevolence. 

During the summer, a few months previous to his death, he took special inter- 
est in the building of a fine substantial beach cottage, that he might increase 
the pleasure of his children and grandchildren in their annual visits to their 
old home. This proving to be his last work, will serve as a parting expression of 
his strong attachment to them. 

It was a felicity that he lived to round the three-score years and ten, his eye 
not dim, his natural force not materially abated; a felicity that he enjoyed 



470 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

such good health through the full course of the achieving years allotted unto 
man; a felicity that he saw his own large and unbroken family of nine children 
established in life, and that he had in his many grandchildren so large and 
bright a promise of ample transmission in the line of family descent. 

Thus passed away at three-score years and ten, a man of the most approved 
Kew England type in thrift and achievement. 

DR. JEREMIAH W. DEARBORN. 

The following sketch is from the pen of a friend long known and highly appreciated, Judge David H. 
Hill of Sandwich, N. H. It was received after the entire work was prepared for the press, and all save 
the few last pages in type. In compliance with his expressed desire we give it place here. — [J. W. D.] 

Among the notices of Parsonsfield physicians (which town has been 
greatly distinguished, as well in the eminence as numbers of that hon- 
orable profession,) an observer in Carroll County desires to mention 
briefly Dr. Jeremiah W. Dearborn. After fifteen or twenty years of 
successful practice in Parsonsfield, Me., and Effingham, N. H., his 
practice began to extend and his reputation became much more than 
local. He has enjoyed in a very high degree the personal friendship 
of his medical rivals, and in matters of surgery and in the crises of dan- 
gerous diseases he has been much employed as a consulting physician 
and surgeon, meeting his brother physicians in hardly less than thirty 
towns in York, Oxford, Carroll and Strafford counties. His valuable 
judgment and experience, as well as his pleasant personal relations 
with such distinguished physicians as his eminent townsman, Dr. Moses 
Sweat, Dr. Augustus D. Merrow, of Freedom, Dr. W. H. H. Mason, of 
Moultonborough, Dr. W. H. Bragdon, of Conway, and Dr. S. O. Clark, 
of Limerick, and the kindly aid rendered to the younger physicians, 
have necessarily led to this result. He is yet in the prime of life, and 
few men who are so incessantly engaged can so keep in abeyance all 
corroding care, and enjoy so well the sunshine and poetr}^ of life. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

In the brief preface we have made mention of some of those who have 
by their efforts greatly aided us in the performance of the task of pre- 
paring this volume ; but we feel that a duty will be left undone, and 
our obligations not discharged, if we fail to emphasize in some manner 
the great helpfulness of those, without whose ready response to our 
needy call it could not have been issued. 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 47 1 

First and foremost in pecuniary aid came Geo. I. Doe, of Wilton, 
N. H., son of Hon. Alvah Doe. His thought was, that the centennial 
of the town was not only worthy of being observed, but that in all 
particulars it should be accomplished properly, and that could not be 
done without money ; accordingly he volunteered his donation, and 
and urged that others should do likewise. He is a man of much busi- 
ness enterprise and of sterling worth, circumspect and successful as a 
financier, social and frank in his intercourse, quick in his perceptions, 
accurate and honest in his judgments, generous and genuine in his 
friendships, and kind and liberal in his charities. Three of his uncles 
each bestowed upon us a like sum with him. These were followed by 
similar donations from others, among whom, besides their gifts in cash, 
has come sustaining power, such as men like Hon. James W. Brad- 
bury, Dr. Joseph Ricker, Horace Piper, A.M., and Dr. S. K. Towlcj 
know h-ow to bestow. 

Especially must we here mention a dear friend of our early and later 
years. Prof. C. F. Brackett, of Princeton, N. J., who, although weighed 
down with sadness at the recent loss of his amiable and accomplished 
wife, as well as crowded with labor beyond the endurance of most 
minds, has furnished the admirable paper on the " Progress of Physics 
for a Century." The article does not need any commendation. 

Then we wish to express our great obligations to Rev. R. H. Con- 
well for the valuable services he rendered, supplying for the day the 
place of Prof. Brackett, who was unable to attend, and furnishing us 
a rich treat on the Sabbath following, a digest of which appears. 

John Bennett has ever been ready to assist and to counsel, has per- 
formed his full share in the revision of papers, and has furnished 
sketches of Bartlett and Alvah Doe, Samuel Merrill and Rev. L. T. 
Staples. 

Of those who have never been residents of Parsonsfield, several have 
been very helpful. George Parsons, of New York City, a descendant 
of the fourth generation from Thomas Parsons, the proprietor, has been 
extremely generous and kind. He has furnished no less than three 
engravings for the work, besides bestowing upon us a liberal sum to 
assist in carrying out the programme for the centennial. It is with 
pleasure we acknowledge our great obligations, and at the same time 



472 HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 

our regrets that we are not allowed by him to present his portrait in 
our history, with some facts and data relative to his career, which 
would be of interest to his many friends. We have at several times 
urged him to allow this, and we take the liberty to quote from several 
of his letters to show that, although he refuses to grant the request, 
it is not from want of interest for us, nor lack of generosity of spirit. 

Alluding to this subject, under date of December 2, 1887, he says : 
" Your esteemed favors of October and of last week were duly re- 
ceived. I fully appreciate your kindness and good will in offering to 
insert a portrait and a sketch of myself in the history of your town. 
I should regard it an honor to be associated with the people of Par- 
sonsfield. Her long list of doctors, lawyers, ministers, teachers, &c., 
have made their impress at home and abroad. * * * They 
are worthy of honor and commendation, and I congratulate you that it 
has fallen to your lot to contribute so largely toward this result." 
" But I am of the present, and hope to remain so for a long time." 

Under date of January 5, 1888, he writes : " I have written Prof. 
L. O. Emerson, enquiring if a portrait and sketch of his uncle, Samuel 
Parsons, would appear, and offering any pecuniary aid therefor, or for 
any other person he might desire." 

January 10, in a letter to Prof. Emerson, which was forwarded to 
me, he writes : " I notice that Dr. Dearborn is intent on carrying me 
' down the ages ' in his history. I certainly think it good company to 
glide along with. * * * j contribute most cheerfully for Uncle 
Addison's [Dr. Jos. A. Parsons] picture and sketch. Enclosed, you 
will find a check for $75. 

Therefore, we deem it but simple justice that reference should thus 
be made to his unselfish generosity and great kindness and helpful- 
ness. 

EXPENSES OF CENTENNIAL. 

The following is a list of the contributors and contributions, and 

a statement of the aggregate expenses incurred, not including the 
expenses of publication of the volume : 

Georgel. Doe, Wilton, N. H., - - - - 8100.00 
Bartlett Doe, San Francisco, Cal., - - . 100.00 

John Doe, " " u . . . iqo.OO 

Charles Doe, " " u . . . . 100.00 



HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. 473 

Hon. James W. Bradbury, Augusta, Me., - 100.00 

Edward Tuck, New York City, - . - - 50. 00 

James W. Cook, Boston, 60.00 

Hon. G. M. Wentworth, Calais, - . - . 50.00 

E. L. Sanborn, Boston, - - - - . 50.00 

J. H. 8auborn, Newton Centre, - . - - 50.00 

George Parsons, New York City, ... 50.00 

Hon. L. D. M. Sweat, Portland, - - - - 50.00 

Burleigh Pease, Esq., Bangor, Me., - - - 25.00 

Dr. S. K. Towle, Hampton, Va., - - - - 25.00 

Ira Moore, Los Angeles, Cal., - - - - 20.00 

Dr. Isaiah Pray, New York City, - - - - 20.00 

Eev. Joseph Ricker, d.d., Augusta, Me., - - 15.00 

C. D. Moore, Lynn, Mass., ----- 10.00 

Charles Moore, " " 10.00 

Dr. A. R. Moulton, Worcester, Mass., - - - 10.00 

Hon. C. K. Lord, La Crosse, Wis., - - - 10.00 

Dr. S. H. Durgin, Boston, 10.00 

James Edgcomb, Hiram, Me., - - - - 10.00 

L. G. Lougee, Portland, Me., - - - - 10.00 

Mrs. A. A. Fessenden, Gorham, Me., - - 10.00 

C. B. Parsons, Burlington, Iowa, - - - - 10.00 

John J. Merrill, Roxbury, 10.00 

Horace Piper, A. M., Washington, D. C, - - 10.00 

*Henry Whitten, 10.00 

Mrs. Sarah Googins, Saco, 10.00 

Anson J. Wedgwood, Boston, - - - - 7.00 

Mrs. Dr. Parsons, Windham, - - - - 5.00 

A. S. Pennock, Boston, ----- 5. 00 

Capt. A, S. Libby, Wolfborough, N. H., - - 5.00 

Rev. Asa Dalton, Portland, - . - - 5. 00 

Samuel Garland, Gorham, Me., - - - - 5. 00 

Edward Sanborn, Boston, 5.00 

*E. S. Ridlon, Esq., Portland, - - - - 5.OO 

J. M. Brown, Esq., Boston, - - - - 5. 00 

Hon. W. D. Knapp, Great Falls, N. H., - - 5.00 

Lorenzo D. Piper, , Wis., - - - I.OO 

Town of Parsonsfield, ^500 on 5 months, - - 487.50 

Total, SI, 625.50 

Total amount expenditures, - - - $1, 664. 38 

Total amount of relays, 8295.13 

Balance to apply toward expenses of preparing 

and publishing history, - - . - S256.25 

January, 1888. J- W. Dearborn. 

•Deceased. 



INDKX. 



INDEX 



Acknowledgments , 
Act of Incorporation, 
Ames John M., 

Marston, 

Marston jr., 

Brothers, 

Daniel, . 

Ziniri, 

Daniel jr.. 

Family, . . 

John, 
Address of Welcome, 

H. G. O. Smith, 
Andrews Leonard, . 
Allen John, 
Allen Samuel, 
Avery Jeremiah, 

Joseph H., 

Family, 

Walter, 
Altitude of Parsonsfield, 
Alcohol, 



Banks Jacob, 

Israel, 

Family, 

Moses, . 
Barker Nathaniel, 

Lewis, 

David, 
Bailey John, 

Henry, 

Nancy, . 
31 



184, 185 



, 




. 


470 


. 


, 




416 


2,8, 


258, 


421, 


431 


, 


, 


257, 


365 


, 




2,8, 


258 


, 


, 




57 


, 




• 


257 


• 


• 


• 


258 
258 
365 


• 


185, 


232, 


257 
13 

182 
12 




185 


190 


238 


, 


. 


238 


459 


»,190 


350,418 


457 


, 


, 




350 


, 




. 


350 


, 


. 


350 


457 


. 




. 


175 


• 


• 




208 


• 




211 


330 

2,8 






326 


,365 
239 


• 




. 


261 


, 


. 




261 


. 


261 


,437 


,439 


349 


,420 

• 


,430 


,432 

130 

46 



478 



INDEX. 



Bennett John, 

John P., 

Dr. John L., 

Family, . 

Charles, 

Dr. Gilman L., 
Bennett John, . 
Bean Cyrus E., 
Benson James, 

Geo. W., 

Family, 

John, 
Benton Albion P., 
Berry James, 
Bickforcl Geo, 

Geo. W., 

Dr. Stephen E., 

Benjamin, 

John, 

Biddeford Journal, 
Billings Hiram, 
Blazo Eobert T., . 

Amos, 

Mrs. Daniel O., 

Daniel Otis, 

Dr. Charles, 

Family, 

John, 

William, 

Eben, 
Blaisdell Dr. John J., 

Dr. Cyrus, 

Dr. Irvan, 
Bonney Dr. C. F., . 
Boothby Joseph, 

Chase, 

Fanaily, 

Henry, 

Samuel, 

John, 
Bolton Friend, 
Bounties paid soldiers. 



V, 1, 2, 3, 8, 57, 236, 321, 415, 423, 428, 432, 471 
. 320,421,422,423,431 
155 
320 
239 
67, 141, 234, 420, 421, 422, 423, 430, 432 

16, 320 

237 

206,453 

65, 297, 423 

453 

453 

256, 450 

190, 206, 458 

185, 191, 233, 452 

43, 423 

155, 424 

. 190, 238 

. 453 

. 9 

234 

2, 8, 12, 129, 341, 421, 424 

134, 184, 185, 187, 205, 238 

. 3 

. 366,423,424 

156 

341, 366 
. 220,366 

420, 429 

. 12,424 

134 

. 142,424 

142 

148 

236 

. 2, 8, 43, 236, 421, 422 

342, 366 
205, 206, 239 

.342 
342 

. 453 
229 



INDEX. 



479 



Brackett Prof. C. F 

Hon. John, 

John, 

James, 

James Jr., 

John W., 

Moses R., 

Isaac, 

Nathaniel, 

Joseph, 
Bradbury James, 

Hon. James W. frontispiece 

Bion, 

Dr. Samuel M. , 
Bragdon Dr. W. H. 
Brown John M., 

Simon, 

Family, . 

Eobert, 

John, 

Robert jr., 
Burbank Samuel, 

Caleb, 

John, 

Dr. Eleazer, 

Dr. Oscar, 

Dr. Silas, 

Family, . 

Deacon David, 

Rufus, 
Burnham Paul, 

Thatcher W., 

Asa, 

Geo. O., . 

Family, 
Burleigh William, 
Bullock Jeremiah, 

Miss Margaret, 

Elder Christopher, 

Jeremiah, 

Rev. Wescott, 



7,14, 



vi, 7, 45, 67, 73, 154, 424, 471 
2, 8, 287, 288, 420, 421, 430, 432 
. 287 
287 
287, 421, 431 
. 288,424 
. 237 
237 
237,422 
451 
57, 134, 205, 206, 234, 428, 429 
58, 240, 250, 422, 424, 433, 471, 473 

47,129 

142, 287, 301, 424 

. 470 

132, 281, 424, 473 

235, 277, 424 

367 

.185,190 

, 190,234 

. 190 

204, 205, 424, 451 

205,235 

238 

137,424 

. 150,424 

. 155 

367, 451, 454 

. ■ . .454 

454 

205, 206, 233, 335, 4.36 

2, 8, 335 

42,424 

.44,424 

335, 368 

21 

2, 8, 237, 260 

3 

219 

221 

224 



48o 



INDEX. 



Buzzell Dr. John D., 


, 


• > • 


137 


Family, 


. 


. 


869 


Eev. John, 


. 


16,161,206,216,217, 


218, 238, 339, 428, 429, 430 


Dr. James M., 




, , 


. 7, 145, 424 


Dr. Aaron, 


, 


• • 


. 146,424 


Business, town, 




O 


. 199 


Cartland Silas H., 


, 


. . • 


2, 8, 223, 424 


Family, 




. 


. 369 


Carriages, early, 


. 


. 


211 


Captains, 




. 


. 436 


Census, 


. 


• . . 


206 


Centennial Poem, 




. 


. 126 


Hymn, 


. 


. 


7 


Committee, . 




. 


1,2,8 


Cedar Mountain, 


. 


1 • . 


. 175,263 


Chandler's Band, 






. 4,7,11,13 


Chase David M., 


. 


. 


2,8 


Moses, 




. 


190, 206, 458 


Edmund, 


. 


1 


185, 190, 235, 418 


David, 




. 


. 458 


John, 


. 


. . • 


458 


Chapman Samuel, 




. 


206, 239, 458 


Andrew Mc, 


. 


. 


205,206,237 


George F., 




. 


237, 421, 428 


Eev. Elias, 


. 


. 


216 


Chadbourn Hon. William G., 


. 


. 131 


Champion James, 


. 


. 


. 185,235 


Changes in production. 


. 


. 


. 434 


Chamberlin Edward C. 


5 


. 


296 


Cheney Horace R., 


. 


. 


68, 292, 293, 424 


Daniel, 


. 


. 


455 


Chellis Seth, 


. 


. 


. 363 


Chick Daniel, 




. 


206, 239, 455 


Church, Old School F. 


Baptist, 


. 


. 220 


So. Parsonsfield F. 


Baptist, 


. 


219 


No. 


a 


. 


. 220 


East " 


ii 


. 


219 


Free Baptist, 


. 


. 


213, 217 


First Baptist, 


. 


. 


216 


Baptist, 


. 


. 


213, 216, 221 



INDEX. 



481 



Church, Congregational, 

Second Baptist, 

Christian Advent, 

Universalist, 

Friends, 
Churches and Ministers, 
Churchill Ichabod, 

Maj. Thomas, 

Nath. H., 

Family, 

OtisB., . 

Thomas S., . 

Mrs. O. B., 
Clifford Hon. Nathan, 
Clark Dr. D. W. C, 

Dv. S. O., . 
Colcord Josiah, 

Job, 

Family, 

Kev. E. J., . 

Henry W., 
Conditions of Settlement, 
Conwell Eev. Russell H., . 

Sermon by, . 
County Commissioners, 

Treasurers, . 
Committee on Vocal Music, 

Programme, 
Contributors list of, 
College Graduates, 
Colonels, 
Cook .James W. , 

Dr. Richard L., 

Mrs. J. W., 
Cole J. W., . 
Conner family. 
Crouch Miss Alice, 
Cows, 
Crops, 
Cram Joseph, 

Edwin J., 

John A., 



213 


,214 


,215 


,216 
222 
222 
222 
223 
213 


• 


205 


,206 


,239 
239 


31 


239 


342 


457 


. 




342 


,369 


2,8 


239 


240 


452 


• 


2,8, 


260, 


343 

3 

23 


• 




135 


235 
470 


185 


190 


205 


235 


• 


185 


190 


234 
370 


• * 


• 


424 


445 

2,8 
189 


vi, 7, 12, 


165, 


307, 


471 


. 


165 to 173 


. 


. 




432 


. 




. 


432 


. 


. 




3 


, , 




. 


2 


, 


, 


472, 


473 


• 




• 


57 
436 


4, 232, 


249, 


421, 


473 


• 


• 


157, 


424 

3 

237 

372 


• 


• 


e 


,11 
210 


, 


198, 


206, 


434 


. 


178, 


188, 


18» 


. 


. 


69, 


424 


. 




6£ 


1,42 



482 



INDEX. 



Cram Family, .... 


. 


336 


James, .... 




. 236 


Cushman Samuel, .... 


. . 


. 19, 234 


Robert, 




19 


Job, ..... 


• 


19 


JD 






Dalton Samuel, .... 




190, 234, 236, 238 


Benjamin, .... 


, . 


17, 234, 330 


Rev. Asa, .... 




. vi, 268, 473 


Family, ..... 


. 


372 


Davis William B., 




2, 8, 421, 451 


George P., .... 


, 


2,8,425,455 


George, .... 




. 455 


Malcolm, .... 


. , 


154 


Moses, .... 




. 343 


Davis Alvah M., . 


. . 


343 


Family, .... 




. 373 


Wm. G., .... 


, , 


450 


Fulton B., . 




. 450 


Dearborn and Leavitt, 


. 


204 


Joseph of , . 




. 205 


Dearborn Dr. J. "VV., . . v, 1, 


2, 3, 7, 10, 11, 13 


, 158, 425, 432, 470 


Jeremiah, .... 




205, 206, 310 


John, 


. 


310 


Joseph S., . 




. 315,421,436 


Joseph F., 


. 


237, 316, 423, 432 


Simon F., . 




. 317 


Jacob, ..... 


. 


237, 421, 436 


Samuel G., . 




2, 8, 310, 421, 423 


Family, ..... 


. 


. 309, 374 


Joseph, .... 


312 


, 379, 421, 425, 436 


Dedication, ..... 


. 


iii. 


Deed of Capt. Sandy to Francis Small, 




. 416 


Delegates chosen for Separation from Mass., 


. 


428 


Devereux Richard, 




239, 351 


Thomas, .... 


. . 


351 


John, .... 




2, 8, 332, 351, 454 


Jonathan, . . . i 


. . 


. 237, 351 


Dr. Frank G., 




157, 351 


Family, ..... 


. 


. 351, 376 


DittrickMrs. S. L., 




3, 348 



INDEX. 



483 



Dixon William D. , , 
Doe Jeremy, 

Family, 

Charles, 

William K., 

Hon. Alvah, 

Ira C, . 

Bartlett jr., 

John, 

Dr. Theophilus, 

Gideon, 

John, 

Levi, 

John jr., 

Col. Bartlett, 

George I., 
Downs Benjamin, 
Droft^n Dr. T. A., 
Dutch Stephen, 

Samuel, 

Family, . 

Henry, 
DurginProf. S. H., 

Family, . 
Dye-pot law, 



Eastman A. J., . 

Edgcomb Thomas, 

Edgerley Daniel, 

Electricity, 

Elliot Daniel, 

Emerson Prof. L. O., 
Rev. Thomas P., 
Rev. Charles H., 
Capt. Luther, 
Joseph P., 
Elizabeth U., 
Family, . 
Homestead, . 

Emery Isaac, 
Nicholas, 
Dr. Melville A., 



2,4, 



,8, 



. 211, 

. 352, 

. 57, 355, 

1, 8, 240, 352, 

57, 358, 421, 423, 427, 431, 432, 

43,57, 

. 57,355, 

57, 355, 

. 184, 185, 187, 190, 
184, 185, 187, 189, 



. 354, 

V, 471, 



E 



233, 



153, 



259 
205 
376 
472 
423 
436 
423 
472 
472 
140 
203 
190 
185 
185 
436 
472 
460 
147 
190 
423 
378 
423 
473 
378 
194 



69 
239 

. 451 
. 73,464 
206, 239, 458 
3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 163, 246, 423, 445, 471 
61, 423 
. 65,423 
. 245 
4, 163, 245 
6, 11 

245, 378 

246, 249 
233, 456 

18, 206, 234 
155, 424 



484 



INDEX. 



Emigration, .... 


...>.. 209 


Executive Committee, 


3 


Expenses of Centennial, 


472 


Evans Hiram, .... 


450 


Edgcomb James, .... 


473 


IF 




Fairfield Gov., .... 


22 


Farmers, prominent, 


35 


Felch Isaac N., .... 


. 64,2.38 


Fenderson Ivory, 


. 1,2,8,240,344,421,432 


John, ..... 


236 


William, .... 


236,344 


Family, ..... 


344,379 


Fernald Elliot, .... 


311,420, 


Elliot Jr., .... 


. 310,312,421 


Family, .... 


311,379 


Fesseuden Mrs. A, A., 


•473 


First white male child born in town , 


233,350,457 


Flanders James N., . . . 


450 


Floyd Michael, .... 


185 


Fluellen, ..... 


177,178,182 


Folsom Simeon, 


237 


Fogg James, .... 


235 


Family, .... 


380 


Food, Early, ..... 


195 


Foss Eben, .... 


1,8,240,334 


Samuel, ..... 


. 237,335 


Levi, .... 


335 


Ebenezer, .... 


239 


JohnH., .... 


237 


Family, ..... 


334 


Fowler G. A. S., ... 


450 


Fox Samuel, .... 


. . 205, 239, 430 


John, .... 


185, 237 


Edward, .... 


. 185,237 


Thomas E., , 


451 


Frost William, .... 


236 


French Woodman, 


.450 


Fruit, ..... 


. 35,435 



INDEX. 



485 



Garland Jonatharij 




186 


Samuel, . 




17, 186, 205, 206, 215, 233, 301, 429, 430 


Samuel ,2 




473 


David, 




57,301,424 


John, 




43,301,422,424,4.31 


Edmund, 




60,283 


Joseph, 




65,314,424 


Edmund,2 




424 


Daniel S., 




424 


Family, . 




301,380 


Gammon John, . 




458 


Garner Allen, 




332,450 


Generals, 




436 


General Muster, 




228 


Index, 


. 


^'ii 


Geography of Parsonsfield, 


174 


Gilman Dr. Sumner, 


. 


144 


Dr. Woodbury, 




144 


Goodwin Aaron, 


, . 


233,456 


Googins Mrs. Sarah, 




473 


Goddard John, 


. . 


237 


Gould Mrs. Jesse, 




. . . . -3 


Eben, 


. 


187,205,206,239,458 


Gore, 




187,225,238 


Grace Francis S., 


. . 


234 


Graves Dr., 




42 


Granville Joseph, 


, . 


185,190,197,235,460 


Family, . 




381 


Haines Ira, 


^ , 


452 


John M., 




452 


Joseph, 


. 


452 


Haley Mrs. B. F., 




• 3 


Hale Enoch, 


, , 


234,452 


Hart James, 




. 41,187,206,225,427 


Hanneford Dr. Levi 


A, 


140 


Josiah, 




234 


Family, 


. 


. " . ' . . . .381 


Heat, 




104 



486 

Hilton Eev. Charles A , 

George, . 

Dr. Geo. W., 

Dudley, . 

Family, 

Andrew, 
Hill Mrs. M. M., 

Judge David H. , 
Hobbs Dr. Moses, 

Samuel, 

David L., . 

Family, . , 

James, 
Hodsdon Israel, 

Family, 
Holmes John, 
Homes, Early, 
Horses, 
Howe Levi, 
Houses, Early, 
Huntress Thomas C, 

Dr. Joseph, 

Joseph C, 

John, 
Huckins Joseph, 



Improvements, 

Immigration, 

Indians, 

Incorporation of Town, 

Intoxicants, 

Invocation, 

Improvement in Stock, 



Johnson David, 
Family, 



Keons William, 
Kezar Falls, 
George, . 



INDEX. 



IC 





353, 424 


. • • 


234 


, , 


. 154 


185, 190 


, 205, 233 


, , 


. 382 


. . • 


190 


, , 


3,444 


• • • 


470 


. 


. 140 


185 


, 190, 456 


185, 190, 235 


, 238, 420 


. 


383 


, 


. 190 


205 


233, 455 


, , 


. 383 




20 


, , 


. 180 


, , . 


210 


• • 


. 233 


. • • 


181, 194 


, , 


2, 8, 239 


» • » 


149 


, , 


. 456 


, . . 


456 


• 


. 235 




197 


. . 


209 


176, 177, 


179, 434 


, . 


191, 416 


• 


208 


, , 


. 14 


31, 342, 


350, 457 




206, 351 


• 


451* 




190 


175, 


239, 433 


179, 180, 184, 185, 


191, 239 



INDEX. 



487 



Kezar Abner, 

John, 

Ebenezer, 

Samuel F., 

Family, 
Kent Josiah, 
Kennard Dr. John A., 
Kennison Solomon, 
Kimball Dr. John G., 

Jonathan, 
Kitchen, the, 
Kinsman, Col. Jonathan, 
Knapp Hon. William D., 

Samuel, 

Family, 
Knight Joseph, 

Shem, 

James, 



205, 336, 420, 429, 430 

31, 336, 421, 431, 432, 436 

336, 458 

336 

336, 383 

456 

. . 156,424 

: 186, 190, 235 

. 156 

. 206,460 

. 194 

185, 190, 228, 235, 420, 436 

66, 131, 332, 424, 473 

206, 235, 430 

. 332 

. 206,455 

.455 

455 



Lawyers of Parsonsfield, 
Leavitt Albert E. , 

Mrs. A. K., 

Family, 
League Jacob, 
Light, . . 

Libby Oliver, 

John, 

Nehemiah T., . 

Family, 

Kev. Charles O., 
Libbey Capt. A. S., 

Enoch, 
Light and heat, . 
Libraries, 

List of Illustrations, 
Log rolling, 
Lord Richard, 

Morris, 

Rev. Wentworth, 

Dea. John, 

John, 

Dr. Richard, 



127 

2, 8, 235 

. 3 

. 384 

190 

. 117 

67 

185, 190, 238 

2, 8, 421, 459 

. 384 

219 

300, 473 

190 

. 207 

432 

xi 

. 196, 262 

205, 234 

205 

16, 221, 236 

235 

. 236 

. 149, 424 



488 



INDEX. 



Lord Caleb B., 

Edwin E., 

Mrs. E. E., 

Ammi R., 

Cyrus K., 

George, . 

Samuel, ||. 

Eamily, 

Almon, 
Lougee John, 

Gilmau, 

Samuel, . 

John, 2 

Gilman,2 

Gilman,^ 

David G., 

Hugh B., 

Dr. George E. 

Sylvester, 

Dr. Charles, 

Taylor, 

Lewis G., 

Family, 
Lombard John G., 

Family, 
Lumbering, . 



. . . 130,424 

2, 8, 347 

8 

'. . . . 346,385,420 

346,473,385 

347,385 

347,433 

346,385 

460 

. 184, 185, 191, 237, 280, 386, 436, 459 

184, 185, 187, 190, 217, 237, 280, 386, 420 

184, 185, 190, 207, 279, 420 

233 

280 

1, 8, 237, 240, 280, 421, 424 

280 

280 

279 

279 

... . 149 

279 

473 

386 

.... 235 

385 

207 



nyc 



Maple wood, . 
Maine Sentinel, . 
Martin Dr. N. R., 
Majors, 
Manufactories, 
Me Arthur John, 
Mason George, 

Dr. W. H. H., 
Marston Samuel D. 

Ann, 

Family, . 

David, 

Caleb, 

James, 



13, 



2,8,45, 

46, 

. 341, 

185, 190, 420, 428, 429, 430, 436, 

185, 190, 205, 

. 185,190,435, 



433 
10 
149 
436 
433 
237 
450 
470 
424 
427 
386 
460 
460 
436 



INDEX. 



489 



Marston Simon, 

Jacob, 

Isaac, 

Smith, 
Maloon Joseph, 

Samuel, 
Mclntire Rufus, 

James O., 

Malcolm, 

Rufus jr. , 

Philip W., . 
Merrill Maj. Samuel, 

Robert, 

H. Loring, 

Alanson B., 

Liston B., 

Hardy, 

Joseph, . 

Stephen, 

John, 

John Jay, 

Dr. Paul, 

Henry, 

Family, . 

Isadore P., 
Merrow Dr. A. D. 
Military, . 
Militia, 
Mills Blaisdell, . 

Lord, 

Dearborn, 
Ministers and churches, 
Ministers, 
Miller Lemuel, 
Mighel Dr. Jesse, 

Moses, 

Tristram, 
Minerals of Parsonsfield, 
Moore Dr. Levi C, 

Dr. John, 

Dr. James O., 

John,^ 



21, 47, 218, 234, 317 



420, 429, 430, 456 
421, 431, 436 
341 
. 341 
190 
. 190 
420,422,428,430,431,4.32 
. 130, 318 
66, 318 
318 
. 7, 127, 240 
1, 2, 8, 356, 421, 428, 436 
2, 8, 238 
2, 8, 359, 428 
70 
. 217, 220 
188, 205, 206, 311, 420 
12, 205, 237, 436 
. 236 
206, 238, 275 
276, 473 
152 
. 345 
387 
. 7, 126, 445 
470 
. 228 
435 
197, 207, 453 
175,197,207,235,433 
197, 207, 234 
213 
. 223 
235 
. 138 
185, 191, 211, 233 
. 457 
159 
. 142 
. 142, 163 
V. 3, 143 
. 205, 420 



490 



INDEX. 



Moore Harvey, 

Eben, 
John, 
Joseph, . 

Family, . 

Cyrus K., 

Ira, 

Luther S., article by, 

Chas., 

CD., . 
More Prof. Ira, . 
Morrison James, 
Moulton Dea. Samuel, . 

Joseph, . 

Lorenzo, 

Wm. E., 

Frank P., 

Alvah O., 

Dr. Alvah, 

Dr. John P., 

Cutting, 

Samuel,^ 

William, jr., 

David O., 

George, 

Dr. A. E., 

Family, 

Cutting, jr., 
Mudgett David, . 

Joseph, . 

Simeon, 

David,2 . 

John, 

Dr. Simeon, 

Simeon D., . 

Family, . 
Mulloy Joseph, 
Music and Musicians of Parsonsfield, 



Nason Eufus, 
Isaac, 



InT 



184, 186 
184 



185 



1,2,8 



185 



163, 206 
191, 233, 357, 457 
185, 191, 205, 357 
. 233, 457 
345, 357 
346 
346, 421, 422, 423 
357 
. 473 
473 
vi. 274, 423, 473 
191, 205, 233, 456 
. 17, 205, 339 
. 2, 8, 424 
2, 8, 422, 424 
340, 421, 422, 427 
. 45, 70, 424 
. 70, 423 
. 139 
. 154, 424 
206, 339 
. 220, 339 
. 205, 236 
340 
. 340 
. 155, 473 
338, 387 
458 
190, 237, 339, 418 
206 
337, 389, 420 
. 337, 389 
337, 421, 431 
150 
. 237 
. 337, 389 
238, 458 
163 



235, 454 
235, 454 



INDEX. 



491 



Neal Walter, 

Enoch, 

Enoch W. , . 

Luther, . 

John, 

Dr. J. Herbert, 

Family, 
Newbegin Elias, 

George, 

John S., . 

Walter H., . 
Norton Samuel, 

Moses F., 
Nute Charles O., 

Family, 
Nutter Family, 



. 186, 


190, 


234, 390 


186, 


205, 


234, 312 


. 390, 


421, 


422, 424 


,8,235,421, 


422, 


424, 428 


. 2,8, 


235, 


421, 424 

156,424 

312, 390 

461 

205, 239 

2, 8, 461 

. 450 

451 

. 450 


. 


1,8 


237, 390 


• 




. 390 
391 



Officers of General Committee, 

Oration, 

Osgood James F., 



14 
450 



. 31,350 

186, 190, 236 
. 186, 190 
. 233 
186, 203, 238, 305 
. 305 
235 
. 235 
391 
. 239 
144 
. 441 
422, 424, 437 
. 391 
9, 15, 59, 178, 182, 183, 186, 188, 189, 190, 191, 197, 203, 205, 
214, 215, 225, 232,240, 260, 314, 418, 420, 435, 464. 

Dr. Charles G., 17,134,144,163 

Dr. Joseph A., ....... 145,473 

Rev. John U., 59 

Thomas jr., 186,236,242,418 



Page Harvey, 

Taylor, 

Samuel, . 

Dudley, 
Paine Philip, . 

Family, 
Palmer Trueworthy D , 

Joshua, 

Family, . 
Parker Benning, 

Dr. Alvah, 
Parks Eliphalet, 

Orlando T., 

Family, 
Parsons Thomas, 



492 



INDEX. 



Parsons Colonel Joseph, 


186, 203, 204, 205, 230, 420, 427, 429,465 


Samuel, .... 


466 


Captain Thomas B., 


243 


Stephen, 


314_^465 


Hon. John U., 


465 


David M., 


315,361 


JohnU., .... 


315,361 


Asa B., . 


315,360,424 


Thomas,* . . . . 


236,237,420 


Family, .... 


240,391,464 


Asa A., . . . . 


. ^ 421,424 


Joseph, .... 


. 1,8,240,315,421,424 


C. B., 


473 


Explanation of Survey, 


192 


Joseph, .... 


, 468 


George, .... 


. ' . . . V. 471, 473 


Parsonsfield Seminary and its Students, 


160 


Assistant Teachers, . 


161 


Principals of, . 


47 


Trustees of, . 


47 


Free High School, . 


48,50,53 


Geography of , . 


174 


Altitude of , . 


175 


Eivers of, ... 


175 


Ponds of , . 


176 


Soil of, .... 


176 


Terms of Settlement of. 


189 


Poets of, ... 


437 


Size of, ... . 


174,417 


Paupers, . ... 


230 


Perry Joseph, .... 


237 


s. r.,. .... 


2,8,421 


Mrs. Lucy M., 


443 


Samuel, .... 


206,237 


Family, .... 


393 


Pearl Melvin, 


422,450 


James, .... 


450 


Pease N., .... 


237,261 


Nathaniel, .... 


. 139,205,260,262 


John, .... 


205,261,262,436 


Andrew, .... 


234,261 


Family, . ' . 


392 



INDEX. 



493 



Pease Burleigh, 
Frank H., 
Maj. Samuel, 
Samuel, jr., 
Maj. Zebulon, 
Joseph, . 

Asa, . 

Josiah, 

Hon. Zebulon, jr., . 

Hon. Edwin, 

Ned, . 
Peabody Rev. Dr., 
Pendeiter T. A., 

Nathl., 

Thomas, 

G. J., 

Charles, 
Pennock A. S., 
Perkins Elisha, 

George, 

John, 
Petition for Incorporation, 
Petitions, names of, 
Philbrick Ira A., 

Daniel, 
Phillips Major, . 

Mi's. Bridgett, 
Physicians of Parsonsfield, 
Piper Elisha, 

Sherman E., 

Benjamin, 

Jonathan, 

JohnW., 

Horace, 

Elisha, . 

Dr. William W., 

Genealogy, 

L. D., 
Pillsbury Oliver, 

Brothers, 

David, 
Plan of Parsonsfield, 
32 



44,65,263,473 

. . . 7,70,445 

184, 186, 191, 260, 261, 418 

186,191,233,261 

186, 204, 205, 233, 261, 436 

186,191,233,261 

186, 197, 235, 262, 436, 449 

186, 197, 235, 262 

261,262,263 

262,263 

263 

20 

237 

237 

.... 237 

237 

451 

473 

453 

236,453 

236 

189 

190 

220 

. 234,456 

177 

178,183,188,202 

134 

186, 191, 203, 204, 205, 233, 264, 418, 420 

9 

48 

42, 57, 266, 420, 422, 424, 430, 431, 432 

1,8,45 

vi, 7, 36, 42, 64, 240, 422, 424, 471, 473 

48 

156 

.394 
* . * . . . .473 

3 

' 464 

450 
.225 



494 



INDEX. 



Poets of Parsonsfield, 

Ponds of Parsonsfield, . 

Political, 

Polls, .... 

Post-olfices, . 

Pray Joseph, 

John, 

Tobias, 

Isaac, 

Samuel ,2 

Archelaus, 

Hannah E,, . 

Dr. Isaiah P., 

Samuel, 

Family, 
Pratt Brothers, 
Preface, 
Programme, 

Progress of Physics for a century, 
Prospect, . . . . 

Public Conveyance, . 



437 

. 176 

. 230, 231 

. 206 

210 

237, 285, 422, 425 

.240,285,420 

. 285 

285 

. 286 

. 237, 459 

46, 426 

153, 425, 473 

284, 425 

398 

. 239 

V 

5,6,7,8 

73 

. 193 

210 



Quint Joseph, 
Quimby Kev. I. P. 



Q, 



206 
12 



:r 



Rand Deacon John, 

John H., 

Charles A., 

Albert, 

Rev. James, 

Family, 
Randall Elder Benjamin, 

Thomas C, . 

Family, 

Mountain, Legend of, 

Thomas, 
Ranges, 

Rambles about town. 
Records, Early, 



236, 339, 398, 399 

. 45, 68, 425 

. 2, 8,425 

286 398 

219,311,379,425 

. 398 

213, 216, 218, 221, 224 

2, 8, 450 

399 

. 175 

449 

. 225 

232 

187, 418, 419 



INDEX. 495 

Kedman, Dr. Tristram, ...... 144, 268, 425 

Capt. Tristram, 17, 267, 420, 428, 431 

P Lorenzo, ........ 234, 268 

Genealogy, ......... 399 

Remick James, ........ 237 

Reporters, .......... 12 

Representatives to General Court of Massachusetts, . . . 429 

Legislature of Maine, ....... 430 

Review to 1800, ........ 200 

Ricker Dea. Dominicus, ....... 17, 222 

Dr. Joseph, . . v, 1, 7, 17, 57, 224, 240, 269, 283, 445, 471, 473 

Dominicus, 1, 8, 44, 281, 421, 422, 425, 432 

Tobias, . . . 17,428 

Prof. G. H., 7,47,160 

Mountain, 175, 232, 233 

Genealogy, ......... 400 

Peletiah, ......... 17 

Richardson A. L., ........ 450 

Ridlon Joseph, ........ 287 

Emery S., 132,281,422,423,425,473 

Genealogy, . ... . . . . . 402 

Roads, 196, '201 

Roberts Mrs. Joseph, . . . . . . . .3 

Genealogy ......... 403 

Rogers John, ......... 456 

Robinson E. D., . . . . . . . . .4 

Rolfe Rev. Benjamin, .... 16, 206, 214, 215, 216, 234 

Rolfe's meeting-house, ........ 21^ 

3 

Sanborn William, 186, 190, 235 

John, 204,205,206,233,289 

Hon. Luther, 57,289,431,432,436 

Hon. C. F., 2,3,8,292,425,432 

JohnH., 57,425,473 

Edwin L., 57,425,473 

Dr. Amzi, ......... 148 

Mrs. C. P., 3 

Edward, . 473 

Family, 288,403 

Sawver Roswell, ........ 451 

Sandy Captain, 16,177,178,182,415,416 

Sargent Jamie, . ........ 451 

W. T., 451 



49^ INDEX. 

Scagel Jacob, ........ 18G, 190 

School Teachers,' list of, ...... . 423 

Senators, list of, ........ 432 

Selectmen, list of, . . . . . , . . 420 

Settlement^of Parsonsfield, conditions of, . ... 189 

Shapleigh Major. Nicholas, ...... 177, 183 

Proprietors, ...... 178, 213, 214, 215 

Sheep, ......... 211 

Shores Mrs. M. T., ....... 161,442 

Smart Dr. Burleigh, ........ 139 

Dr. Emery, . . . . . . . . .139 

Prof. M. M., 47, 02, 144, 224, 422, 425 

Mrs. E. A., . . . . . . . . .3 

Capt. A. O., . . 2, 8, 237 

John G., . ........ 307 

Family, 307,405 

Moulton, ......... 2.35 

Gardner, ........ 307, 405 

Small Francis, ...... 15, 177, 183, 415, 416 

Lauriston W. , letter of, ...... 415 

Smith Dr. Samuel M., ....... 147,425 

• Benjamin, ...... 186, 190, 197, 207, 453 

H. G. O. , . . V, 1 , 7, 14, 174, 182, 240, 260, 273, 406, 422, 432, 434 

James, ......... 238 

Family, . . . . . . . . .406 

David, ......... 459 

Snow Rev. H. F., ........ 12 

Soldiers of the Civil War, . 229 

Soil of Parsonsfield, ......... 176 

Sound, ......... 110 

Springer Mrs. C. R., ........ 348 

Staples Rev. L. T., .... 1, 3, 7, .30, 224, 313, 421, 423, 432 

Dr. H. L., 7,70,157,1.59,425 

Family, ......... 407 

Stacy John, ......... 239 

Family, ...... ... 407 

StackpoleDr. Geo. F., ........ 155 

Stephen A. ........ . 299 

Superintending School Committee, list of, .... . 422 

Sweat Dr. Moses, 17, 40, 57, 127, 128, 136, 161, 218, 2.38, 239, 420, 422, 430, 432 
Dr. Moses E., . . . . . 1,8, 63, 144, 425, 470 

Dr. Jesse, ........ 138, 425 

Dr. William W., ....... 146,425 



INDEX. 



Sweat Dr. John B., 

Mary, 

Hon. L. D. M., 
Swine, 



Taylor Jacob, 

Dr. William, 
Taxation 1790, 
1803, 
1817, 
Tibbets Andi-ew, 
Noah, 

Dr. B. L., . 
Thompson Eev. Wm. R., 

Thomas, 
Thurston Daniel, 
Titles, Early, 
Town Meetings, 
Business, 1785, 
Clerks, list of. 
Plan of, 
Towne John, . 
Towle Jonathan, . 
Dr. Samuel K. , 
Dr. Melville C, 
Capt. Harvey M., 
Mrs. Ada M. , 
Jabez, 
James, 
Family, 
Simeon, 
Albion, 
Levi, 
Geo. W., 
Transportation, . 
Tracy Patrick, 
Trueworthy J. W. , 
Tuck John, 

Hon. Amos, 
Samuel, . 
Genealogy, 
Edward, 



T 



497 

147, 431 



r, 63, 128, 425, 473 
. 211 



2,8 
. 135 
203 
204 
204 
. 190 
23, 47, 431 
154, 425 
7, 10, 14, G7, 425 
.238 
. 206, 459 
. 177 
191, 202, 418 
201,419 
427 
187, 188, 225 
257 
186, 190, 238 
. V, 151, 425, 473 
. 68,151,425 
273, 420, 422, 425, 430 
3 
352 
. 352 
. 352, 407 
. 206 
31 
. 190 
463 
. 195 
188, 203, 204, 239 
. 2,8,421,422,425 
V, 7, 26, 315, 422, 425 
60, 425 
320 
. 407 
V, 473 



498 



INDEX. 



Varney C. C, 

Voters, .... 

Wadleigh Elisha, 

Elisha jr. , . 

E. S., . 

E. B., 

Dr. Daniel, 

Genealogy, . 
Waters Col., claims of, 
"Watson Dr. David, 
Washington Plantation, claims of, 
Wedgwood Joseph, 

Dr. John T., 

William B., . 

Miss Rose K., . 

M. E. J., . 

Dr. Silas B., 

Genealogy, 

Jesse, 

Lot, .... 

Noah, 

A. J., 
Weeks Prof. S. H., . 

Eliphalet, 

Maj. James, . . , 

Elder Samuel, 

Noah, . . . . 

Weeman C. E., . 
Welch Andrew, 
Wentworth Tappan, 

Thomas B., 

Zenas P., . 

Giles M., 

Family, 

John T., 
Whittier J. G., quotations from, 
Whitten Col. Simon J., 

Edwin A., . 

Henry, 

Genealogy, 

Willard M., 



■^ 



■w 



224 
. 203 

206,239,283 
. 286 
2,3,8,295,422,425 
. 2,8 
140 
. 409 
. 202,418 
. 152 
. 202,418 
. 2, 8, 45, 236, 349, 425, 427 
3, 4, 6, 11, 152, 163, 428 
. 45,61,425 
6,11 
46 
143 
. 410 
. 186,234 
186, 190, 238 
206, 233, 457 
. 473 
. 153,462 
. 237 
. 237, 363, 420, 432, 436 
186, 190, 202, 210, 217, 236, 362 
. 205, 237, 429, 430, 431 
. 234 
205,236,453 
. 304 
. 2,8,421 
63,425 
305, 425, 473 
. 412 
257 
. 14, 32, 33, 34, 141 
205, 238, 319, 425, 430, 436 
.229 
473 
. 412 
450 



INDEX. 499 

Wiggin Bradstreet, ........ 234 

Winthrop, 190, 333 

^N^athan, 206,233,333 

Samuel, 17,42,57,333,422,425 

William H., 132, 441 

Family, 333,413 

Wilson Joseph, ........ 236, 345 

Rev. Adam, . . , ' . . . . . 269 

Dr. Moses S. , . . . . . . . .149 

Moses, ......... 345 

Wild Animals, ......... 179 

Wilkinson Plummer E., ...... . 450 

Wolves, .......... 180 

Women of Parsonsfleld, ....... 31 

Woodman Jeremiah H., . . . . . . . .23 

Woodsom Genealogy, ....... 413 



Young W. Scott, . 423, 425 



ERUATA. 

Page 137 For "Dor " read '' Doe." 

156 For " David " Kimball, read " Jonathan." 

275 For " .John I " Merrill, read " John J." 

350 In 15th line for " 1776," read " 1777." 

.352 Last line, for " 1820 " read " 1821." 

360 14th line from bottom, for " Merrill " read " Morrill." 

370 19th line for " June," read " Jan." 

391 Under " Parks " 2d line from last, for " 1880 " read " 1879." 

391 Under " Parsons " for " See pages 340 to 350," read " 240 to 250." 

407 1st line after " has one s.on " read, " Dorcas, residing with father, un- 
married; and a daughter, the wife of Jos. Lord of Newtield." 

420 In foot note for ^ composing " read '' comprising." 

450 14th paragraph, for " Gamer " read " Garner." 



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